INDUSTRY – The state has charged a local man with practicing physical therapy without a license, as well as engaging in theft and forgery.
Brent Dellarma, 44, of Industry, was indicted by a Franklin County grand jury on charges of practicing physical therapy without a license, forgery, and two counts of theft by deception. He was arrested on Nov. 14 by Maine State Police Trooper Aaron Turcotte and released from the Franklin County Jail later that day on a $1,000 cash bail.
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Brent Dellarma |
Assistant Attorney General Lisa Bogue, who works with the AG’s Healthcare Crimes Unit, said that her office had become involved due to Dellarma’s alleged dealings with the MaineCare program. The Healthcare Crimes Unit deals with all cases of MaineCare fraud.
“It’s alleged that he was operating as a physical therapist when he wasn’t properly licensed to do so,” Bogue said.
Dellarma allegedly worked for Genesis Rehabilitation Services, a national company that provides healthcare-related personnel to more than 200 institutions and businesses in 13 states. Dellarma, Bogue said, was apparently contracted to work at the Sandy River Center for Health Care on Route 133 in Farmington.
The accompanying charges of theft by deception are due to accusations that Dellarma billed both his employer, Genesis Rehab Services, and the state, through the MaineCare program, as a licensed practitioner when he had, in fact, no license. The forgery charge relates to the state’s contention that Dellarma inappropriately filled out a the license document itself with an intent to deceive.
Personnel at the health center said they couldn’t comment on how many patients or how long Dellarma may have been working at the facility.
Dellarma is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 23, 2009.
