Crestwood Clinic Named in Federal Health Care Fraud Scheme

A Crestwood chiropractic clinic is at the center of a health care fraud scheme, according to charges brought forth in a federal investigation.

A recent indictment claims Dr. Anthony William Calandro, of Chesterfield, and his assistant, Sherry Rueter, of St. Louis, billed multiple insurance companies for services they never performed, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The pair worked out of the , 9109 Watson Rd., which is also named in the indictment.

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Two undercover investigations by the F.B.I. revealed the individuals billed multiple companies from 2006 to 2011 for thousands of false claims for appointments that patients missed, as well as x-rays that were not taken, according to the news release.

“In most instances, only one or two x-rays were taken during a patient’s visit, but many more x-ray views were billed,” the release notes.

Calandro, Rueter and the chiropractic center were each indicted on one count of health care fraud and four felony counts of making false statements related to health care services.

A conviction for one count of health care fraud carries a 10-year maximum penalty, or fines up to $250,000. The clinic could be fined up to $500,000 per count, according to the release.