British Columbia massage therapist reprimanded for filing 97 fraudulent insurance claims
In the small city of Kelowna, British Columbia, a registered massage therapist named Vicky Bhardwaj has been disciplined for submitting false insurance claims. The investigation into her alleged misconduct began in 2022, following a complaint from a patient.
Despite insurance fraud cases among registered massage therapists (RMTs) in British Columbia not being explicitly quantified, it is clear that such cases attract legal scrutiny. Insurance fraud involving health professionals, including massage therapists, can have severe consequences.
Typical consequences for insurance fraud by health professionals include criminal charges, fines, probation, restitution to the insurance or government bodies, and potentially imprisonment. For example, in cases involving Medicaid fraud in the US, penalties included probation terms, fines, restitution payments, and suspended or actual jail time. In Canada, cases involving insurance fraud by massage therapists can be prosecuted and are subject to legal review.
The misconduct involving Vicky Bhardwaj involved the submission of 97 fraudulent massage therapy claims for treatments not provided, affecting 10 patients. The investigation concluded that the claims were false, and Vicky Bhardwaj had engaged in deliberate misconduct.
However, Vicky Bhardwaj did not admit to the full extent of the misconduct during the investigation, according to the agreement. As a result, she has been suspended for three months and agreed to co-operate with random audits of her practice for one year. She also agreed to pay $350 to the college as compensation for some of its investigative costs.
In addition, Vicky Bhardwaj entered into a consent agreement with the College of Complimentary Health Professionals of B.C., admitting to the misconduct. The agreement notes that her conduct has the potential to harm both individual patients and the reputation of the profession as a whole. It also states that fraudulent billing is unethical and can lead to the misuse of public or private resources intended for patient care.
Furthermore, the agreement highlights that Vicky Bhardwaj's conduct represents a fundamental breach of trust between a health-care professional and the public. The college's code of ethics required her to report findings from the insurance company's investigation, but she did not.
The agreement also requires Vicky Bhardwaj to complete courses on ethics to ensure she understands the importance of honesty and integrity in her practice.
In summary, no specific data on how common insurance fraud is among RMTs in British Columbia is available. However, typical consequences for insurance fraud by health professionals include criminal charges, fines, probation, restitution, and possible imprisonment. Insurance fraud involving RMTs is taken seriously and involves government and regulatory oversight, though no direct BC-specific cases or statistics were found.
If further detailed statistics or case law specific to British Columbia are required, consulting provincial regulatory bodies like the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia or insurance regulators may be necessary.
- The investigation into Vicky Bhardwaj's alleged insurance fraud revealed she submitted 97 false massage therapy claims, affecting 10 patients, which is a form of misconduct that can harm both individual patients and the reputation of the profession as a whole.
- Such insurance fraud cases among registered massage therapists (RMTs) in British Columbia, while not explicitly quantified, can attract legal scrutiny and may result in criminal charges, fines, probation, restitution, and possibly imprisonment.
- In health-and-wellness and general-news, incidents of medical-condition misrepresentation or crime-and-justice like Vicky Bhardwaj's case highlight the importance of ethical practices for RMTs to maintain public trust and integrity in their profession.
