POTTSVILLE - A Mount Carmel woman is headed to federal court after being indicted Wednesday by a grand jury in Harrisburg on charges she committed health care fraud by improperly obtaining Medicare payments.
Joan Cicchiello, 64, faces one count of health care fraud and 14 counts of making false written statements and writings to obtain Medicare payments.
Federal authorities allege that Cicchiello, a certified nurse practitioner who owns and operates Twilight Beginnings, a psychiatric and counseling practice in the borough, submitted false claims beginning in May 2010 for services she did not provide.
Cicchiello contracted to provide mental health services at skilled nursing facilities in seven counties, including Schuylkill and Northumberland, authorities allege.
However, authorities allege Cicchiello employed at least four people who did not meet Medicare licensing requirements for provision of such services. Those people provided the services, but Cicchiello submitted false claims that indicated she had provided them, and she was paid on that basis, according to prosecutors.
Furthermore, Cicchiello fraudulently obtained online certifications in pastoral counseling for her workers, falsely stated in applications for renewal of her license that she had never been convicted of any felonies or misdemeanors and submitted false claims to Medicare for services, prosecutors allege. Those claims stated she had provided medical or counseling services when she actually was on vacation or out of the country, according to authorities.
Prosecutors also are seeking forfeiture of property Cicchiello obtained as the result of her crimes.
The FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General investigated the case, which will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy H. Fawcett.