Long Island chiropractors indicted in Medicare fraud

Chiropractors from Woodmere, West Hempstead and Long Beach are among 92 people across the country who have been charged with falsely billing Medicare and Medicaid for approximately $432 million, according to federal officials.

Melvin Cwibeker, 52, of Woodmere; Richard Hurwitz, 42, of Long Beach; Shimon Metz, 42, of West Hempstead; and Mark Samuel, 52, of Mamaroneck were the four licensed chiropractors indicted for committing Medicare fraud and aggravated identity theft. Cwibeker, whose practice is at 999 Central Ave., was also charged with money laundering, engaging in unlawful monetary transactions and obstructing a federal audit.

The four men pleaded not guilty to the charges in U.S. District Court in Central Islip on Oct. 4.

According to the indictment, the defendants met with elderly patients in assisted-living facilities who have physical and mental disabilities, but did not treat them. The doctors still submitted bills totaling $6.4 million over a six-year period to Medicare, the indictment stated.

“In 2010, when the Center for Medicare Services (CMS) informed Cwibeker that it was auditing his chiropractic practice, Cwibeker allegedly obstructed the CMS audit by creating and submitting fictitious medical records,” an FBI release stated.