Education

Teacher Allegedly Cost School Health Benefits Program Over $550,000 Through Scam

SHUTTERSTOCK/Massimo Vernicesole

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Neetu Arnold Contributor
Font Size:

A New Jersey public school teacher allegedly defrauded a school health benefits program over $550,000 by making false claims for medially unnecessary prescriptions.

Jason Nardachone, 45, allegedly bought compounded medications, such as metabolic vitamins, pain creams, and scar creams for himself and three other teachers, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey on Friday. The alleged actions cost the New Jersey School Employee’s Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) between $3,300 to $22,800 per medication.

Nardachone allegedly offered each of the teachers $500 monthly to buy medicine they did not need. He was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, the press release reported.

SEHBP is a healthcare benefit programs for full-time public school employees and eligible part-time school employees, according to New Jersey’s Department of Treasury.

The alleged scam occurred over a period of five months beginning in September 2015, the NJ Advanced Media reported.

Nardachone is a social studies teacher at Lodi High School in Lodi, according to the school’s website.

Public records provided by the Asbury Park Press shows that Nardachone earned $93,844 as of Oct. 15, 2016.

“The count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense,” the news release said.

Lodi High School did not immediately respond to The Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

Follow Neetu on Twitter

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.