Aquatic therapist arrested on Medicare fraud charge

A Pompano Beach occupational therapist who used swimming to treat stroke victims and other patients has been arrested on a charge of falsely billing Medicare by $586,000, federal court documents show. Theresa Pantanella, founder of Florida Aquatic Therapy Services, billed for more hours of therapy than she provided, for individual therapy when patients were in group sessions and for a therapist’s time when lesser-trained employees were present, according to documents filed Tuesday. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-12-29/business/fl-aquatic-medicare-fraud-20111229_1_occupational-therapist-phony-bills- »  Aquatic therapist arrested on Medicare fraud charge