The owner of a New Jersey counseling center pleaded guilty to billing private insurers for services she never provided.
Maria Cosentino owned Bergen Alliance Counseling Services in Paramus, N.J., according to a March 19 news release from the Justice Department.
Ms. Cosentino submitted hundreds of false claims for counseling services she never provided, claiming over $700,000 in profits, according to the Justice Department. Some claims were billed for patients that were out of the country at the time the claim was made, and others were for patients who had stopped coming to her practice or had never visited the practice at all.
Ms. Cosentino pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud March 19. She faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gain or loss from the offense. Her sentencing is scheduled for July 23.