Resident of Webster, New York Sentenced for Health Care Fraud

CONCORD - Judith Morale (formerly known as Judith Remo), 55, of Webster, New York, was sentenced to three years of probation following her conviction for health care fraud, announced United States Attorney Scott W. Murray.

According to court documents, from 2006 to 2012, Morale owned and operated a business, Bedford Geriatric Physical Therapy, LLC, that provided physical therapy services to Medicare beneficiaries.  Through the business, Morale provided routine foot care (e.g., toenail trimming, ingrown toenail repair and callus shaving) to patients in an assisted living facility in Bedford, New Hampshire.  Knowing that the services were not covered by Medicare, Morale obtained payments totaling $41,127.89 by submitting claims for payment to Medicare that falsely described these routine services as wound care.

Morale previously pleaded guilty on December 18, 2017.  As part of her sentence, Morale was ordered to pay restitution of $41,127.89.     

“Fraud against federal health care programs such as Medicare is a very a serious crime,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Health care providers who attempt to defraud the Medicare program will be investigated and prosecuted.  I am grateful to the investigators whose hard work resulted in this successful prosecution.”

“Every Medicare dollar is needed to provide necessary patient care, thus skimming off funds by providers will not be tolerated,” said Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  “The message is clear.  Those who steal from Medicare will have to pay the price.”

“Ms. Morale defrauded Medicare out of thousands of dollars for her own personal enrichment,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Boston Division. “The FBI, working collaboratively with our law enforcement partners, will do everything we can to root out others like her, who are diverting scarce taxpayer funds from government programs, for their own greed-fueled schemes.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Kinsella and John Davis.