Dennis Dellaghelfa, 54, of Waterbury, Conn., was sentenced to 48 months of prison, and three years of supervised release, for healthcare fraud related to his hearing aid business.
Court documents and statements made in court, revealed that Dellaghelfa is a licensed hearing instrument specialist and the owner of General Hearing, a Waterbury-based hearing aid dealer. Since 2013, General Hearing has been a provider enrolled in the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (CTMAP), Connecticut Department of Social Services-administered program that provides medical assistance to low-income persons. CTMAP’s benefit packages, referred to as “HUSKY” or “Connecticut Medicaid,” It is jointly funded by the State of Connecticut and the federal government.
From June 2016 to April 2022, Dellaghelfa submitted, or caused to be submitted, false and fraudulent claims for payment for services and equipment that were not provided or were medically unnecessary. In November 2018, he submitted claims to Connecticut Medicaid for services provided to six patients during a period of time that Dellaghelfa was traveling outside the U.S. In 2019 and 2020, some of the fraudulent claims involved services that were purportedly provided by his three employees. Dellaghelfa knew that the employees performed hearing tests without having the required professional permit, and submitted paperwork for hearing tests and services that did not occur or were not medically necessary.
On February 9, 2023, Dellaghelfa pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud.
JEFFREY NEWMAN IS A WHISTLEBLOWER LAWTER WHO HANDLES HEALTHCARE FRAUD CASES. HE CAN BE REACHED AT JEFF@JEFFNEWMANLAW.COM OR AT 617-823-3217.
