Patients Tell Of Chiropractor's Bizarre Treatments

Apr. 27 - KGO (KGO) -- A North Bay chiropractor is accused of ripping off his patients -- many of them on Medicare -- by double billing. We look into the bizarre treatments and incredible bills he's giving his customers.

You might think chiropractors help with your aches and pains -- that they'll crack your neck and align your spine. But Daniel Marsh does so much more.

Eighty-six-year-old John Valverde has a problem with his neck. He has a hard time lifting his chin off his chest. When he went to this chiropractor in a Petaluma strip mall, he got a surprising diagnosis. The problem wasn't his neck after all.

John Valverde, former patient: "He seemed to be more interested in my gall bladder and the heart muscles and this and that and the other, than he did my neck."

The chiropractor, Daniel Marsh, rested two boxes with lights on Mr. Valverde's chest -- apparently muscle stimulation devices. He explained the treatment was too new, too cutting edge for Medicare to pay.

Valverde didn't feel anything from the treatment except a pain in the wallet.

John Valverde: "$330 bucks for 90 minutes. Those two lights on there for 90 minutes, $330 bucks."

We left several messages at Marsh's office. He never called back and he wasn't anxious to talk when we caught up with him in Petaluma.

ABC7's Dan Noyes: "About that light box, the muscle stimulation, what is that? For $330? Is that really the way to do business?"

Marsh then motions for us to leave.

Dan Noyes: "Aren't you open now?"

Daniel Marsh: "No, I'm not, thank you."

If you believe the testimonials on Marsh's website, he can help cure all sorts of conditions. Kendra from Petaluma writes, "after only one month, my colitis problem" -- or inflammation of the colon -- "cleared up completely." Lynette from Suisun City says the chiropractor helped her with "food allergies." Andra from Sebastopol claims she "lost 43 pounds in four-and-a-half months" after Marsh put her on supplements.

We spoke with several patients who heard the same pitch from Daniel Marsh.

Nina Lavery, former patient: "The weight would just drop off if I took these pills, three times a day or something."

Patients tell us they were overwhelmed with the range of products Marsh offers -- vitamins, supplements, shoe lifts, chiropractic pillows, even a back-to-school special on backpacks for the kids.

Doreen Schneider, former patient: "That kind of threw me. I thought we're not missing anything here."

What really threw Doreen Schneider was that Marsh insisted she get her spine adjusted often. The chiropractor's records show she sometimes went four times a week. Other patients had the treatment even more often.

Doreen Schneider: "There were times when I said I'll come in once a week, 'oh no, you need to come in more than that, you're not going to get anywhere once a week.' And so I got to the point where like, 'is this for your benefit or mine?'"

Dr. Wally Sampson, National Council Against Health Fraud: "But if you go to a professional, you don't expect that."

Dr. Wally Sampson is a director with the National Council Against Health Fraud.

Dr. Wally Sampson: "You don't get the, you know, 'come, sign up, give me cash up front, I'll give you two visits for one.' I mean that smells bad."

Marsh urges many patients to pay up front and get a discount -- $2,100 for six months. His former billing consultant says the chiropractor often double-billed Medicare or private insurance without his patients' knowledge. Tammy Mulligan tried to warn them, especially the elderly patients.

Tammy Mulligan, billing consultant: "One of the things I stressed was, he is taking advantage of you. You really need to look into this, so it's disheartening."

Dan Noyes: "Are you saddened by this or angered by it?"

Tammy Mulligan: "Angry, angry, that he's getting away with it."

Marsh denies double billing.

Dr. Daniel Marsh, Petaluma chiropractor: "Absolutely not, that's illegal. I would never do such a thing."

Marsh may soon be getting attention from two groups -- the state's Chiropractic Trade Association.

Kassie Donoghue, president, CA Chiropractic Assoc.: "Obviously, we believe that we should be working really hard to eradicate any sort of fraudulent or inappropriate behavior because it doesn't do anybody any good."

& and the California Chiropractic board. Investigators tell us they'll be watching this report and they want the cooperation of Marsh's former patients. John Valverde's on board.

John Valverde: "I would say that he comes under the classification of a quack."

The agency that investigates Medicare fraud is also considering a closer look at Daniel Marsh. We'll tell you when and if anything happens.

You can read part one of our report here in which we look into Marsh's double billing practices.

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