New York State Insurance Department |
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NEWS RELEASE Contact: Public Affairs (212) 480-5262 |
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Eric R. Dinallo Superintendent of Insurance 25 Beaver Street New York, N.Y. 10004
| ISSUED 04/30/2009 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
New York State Insurance Department |
|
NEWS RELEASE Contact: Public Affairs (212) 480-5262 |
|---|
Eric R. Dinallo Superintendent of Insurance 25 Beaver Street New York, N.Y. 10004
| ISSUED 04/30/2009 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
An investigation begun when a medical facility questioned an insurer about a payment it received but had not requested led to the arrest of a Wayne County man Wednesday for fraudulently taking more than $233,000 in health insurance payments.
Ryan T. Breen, 29, of Wiley Road, Savannah, was arrested by state police at Lyons after an investigation by William Fedrau of the Insurance Department’s Frauds Bureau.
Fedrau said Breen is accused of submitting 113 claim forms to UnitedHealthcare Insurance for the payment of holistic treatments that he claimed to have received over a three-year period starting in February 2005. In fact, the treatments were never rendered.
Breen allegedly completed a type of form normally used by professional health care providers. He then signed the forms using the name of another individual who was identified as a former massage therapist. Many of the forms submitted requested payment for multiple treatment claims.
An investigation was begun when the medical facility Breen listed on one of the forms contacted the insurer about a payment it received but had not requested. Until then, Breen had received direct payments from the insurer.
Breen was charged with insurance fraud, grand larceny and forgery. He was released from Wayne County Jail after posting $10,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 4. If he is convicted, Breen could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney David Shaw.
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