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Ex-Downtown chiropractor pleads innocent to fraud
Brian K. Watkins, of 1100 Liberty Ave., Strip District, entered the plea at his arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Francis X. Caiazza. Watkins remains free on bond.
Watkins was indicted May 14 by a federal grand jury on charges involving a scheme to defraud Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and AIG Claims Services Inc. from Aug. 21, 1996 through Oct. 29, 1999.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch said Watkins, who formerly operated Three Rivers Chiropractic, at 345 Fourth Ave., Downtown, submitted hundreds of claims for reimbursement to Highmark and AIG for patient treatment that he knew had never been provided.
She said Watkins placed advertisements in the Pitt News at the University of Pittsburgh seeking participants for a clinical study, then purchased and paid for premiums on Highmark health insurance policies in the names of the study participants.
Watkins was accused of submitting claims to Highmark for reimbursement of treatment provided to patients in the study, falsely indicating that the treatment was part of ordinary patient care, Bloch said.
If convicted, Watkins faces a maximum term of 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine.
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