Chiropractor charged with health fraud

4/27/2005

ADRIAN - An Adrian chiropractor was arraigned yesterday in Lenawee County District Court on health-care fraud and other charges.

Thomas Johnson, 38, owner of Distinctive Health Concepts, pleaded not guilty to 81 counts of health-care fraud and one count each of forgery, uttering and publishing, and false pretenses, authorities said.

Adrian police accused Mr. Johnson of not carrying out all the patient services he claimed he did in filings with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Blue Cross officials alerted police after completing their own investigation, which involved patients of Mr. Johnson's dating to September, 2003.

Though Mr. Johnson carried out some of the services, police said he falsified other services, such as X-rays and mechanical traction treatment. None of the services exceeded $100, police said.

If found guilty, Mr. Johnson could receive up to 14 years in prison. He was released on a personal recognizance bond.