Sound Shore Hospital Orthopedic Surgeon Michael Palmieri Looking at 7 Years for Insurance Fraud; Tip of an Iceberg?

As has now been widely reported, Dr. Michael Palmeiri (pictured right) was arraigned last week after having been accused of fraud by the New York State Insurance Department. Palmieri was changed with third-degree grand larceny and for violating New York State workers’ compensation law after filing false medical forms on behalf of a former New York State corrections officer who pleaded guilty in 2006 to “second-degree grand larceny, filing a false tax return, falsely claiming injury and receiving $40,170 from the New York State Insurance Fund.” A State investigation showed that Coletti operated a contracting business in Westchester and did work on Palmieri’s home. The story received national attention because the Palmieri’s patient, Leo Coletti, was a guard at the famous Sing Sing Prison.

Given the allegations — which Palmieri’s lawyers have denied — it got me wondering whether this was the only time Palmeiri had done something like this and whether his being on staff at Sound Shore Medical Center might suggest the possibility of a “LIRR Retiree Disability” problem here among public employees in New Rochelle. Last year, The New York Times blew the whistle on massive scam by doctors and Long Island Rail Road retirees.

In September 2008, The New York Times ran an investigation on former employees of the Long Island Rail Road. Drawing on government records and dozens of interviews, reporters found that nearly all retirees from this commuter rail service – the busiest in the nation, according to its Web site – were applying for and receiving federal disability payments.

The Times also found that while still on the job, senior engineers and conductors had been taking advantage of old work rules to pad their paychecks, boosting their pensions in turn. These findings came at a time when L.I.R.R. passengers were facing possible fare increases in the near future, and the railroad’s parent – the Metropolitan Transportation Authority – was dealing with a growing budget shortfall.

So, we through out the question and see what we get back. Anyone aware of scams like this being run in New Rochelle?