Patrick Usanga didn’t have a medical degree or license, but that didn’t stop him from allegedly practicing medicine at a Northeast clinic, then billing insurance companies for his services.
Last week, a Municipal Court judge ordered the 63-year-old Folcroft, Delaware County, man to stand trial on fraud, theft, tampering with public records and related charges.
Authorities arrested Usanga on April 10 following an investigation by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor into Northeast Behavioral Medicine at 6800 Castor Ave. A complaint from Independence Blue Cross sparked the probe.
Usanga opened and incorporated the business as “a medical clinic providing psychiatric and chemical treatment counseling,” although no one at the facility including Usanga was licensed to provide such treatment, the DA claimed.
Usanga allegedly sought reimbursements of more than $15,000 from Blue Cross and $5,000 from Aetna for procedures performed at the clinic. Patients told investigators that Usanga provided the services personally, although Usanga allegedly identified other clinic employees as care providers on claim forms. None of those employees held medical licenses either.
Usanga is additionally charged with orchestrating an unemployment compensation scam in 2009 in which he collected more than $55,000, although he allegedly worked at the clinic at the time.
The clinic held a license from the state’s Department of Public Welfare before authorities determined that the clinic did not employ any licensed doctors or counselors. DPW then revoked the license.
Usanga is free on $25,000 bail and is to be arraigned on Aug. 16.
