CFO Jimmy Patronis: $1.4 Million Acupuncture Insurance Fraud Scam Lands Owner in Jail

Vero Beach, Fla.— Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the arrest of Jill Hollis Jaynes, a licensed acupuncture and owner of Absolute Integrated Medicine (AIM), for participating in a more than $1.4 million insurance fraud scheme stemming from 2,470 false insurance claims.

 

 

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said, “Insurance fraud increases rates for everyone. Protecting Floridians is our top priority. We remain committed to bringing these criminals to justice and protecting your money. I commend the efforts by our team and know we will keep finding insurance fraud criminals.”

 

An investigation by CFO Patronis’ Bureau of Insurance Fraud (BIF) found that from September 2013 to December 2016, Jaynes enticed patients, covered under Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) plans, to use her acupuncture clinic by waiving the required deductible and coinsurance for patients. Jaynes also provided herbal supplements and vitamins at no cost as an incentive. Jaynes recovered the costs of the supplements by submitting more than 2,400 fraudulent insurance claims to BCBS and billed the same codes for insurance claims, regardless of the actual treatment provided to the patient.

 

Jaynes is charged with racketeer influenced corrupt organization (R.I.C.O), false and fraudulent insurance claims, waiving of deductible/co-payment, patient brokering and organized scheme to defraud. If convicted, Jaynes could face up to 85 years in prison.

 

Jaynes was arrested and booked into the Indian River County Jail and bail is set at $955,000.