In brief: Chiropractor gets probation
A Post Falls chiropractor was sentenced this week to six months home detention with electronic monitoring for felony health care fraud.
Timothy Grothman, owner of Health Within Chiropractic, will be under probation for 2 1/2 years following the home detention, U.S. Attorney Tom Moss said in a news release.
U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Grothman to pay a $5,000 fine and $37,000 in restitution in addition to 100 hours of community service.
Grothman admitted in January to defrauding numerous health insurance companies by overbilling and billing multiple insurance companies for the same services between September 1998 and August 2003.
Lodge ordered Grothman to pay restitution to multiple providers including Blue Cross of Idaho, Safeco, Aetna, Regence Blue Shield, Farmers Insurance, United Healthcare, AIG and Cigna/Medicare, Allstate, Hartford Insurance Co., One Beacon Insurance and Washington Labor & Industries.
Health Within Chiropractic is still operating in Post Falls.
A receptionist answering the phone Wednesday said Grothman was with a patient.
He didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.
– Taryn Brodwater
Barn destroyed in blaze
An exploding propane tank fueled a fire Wednesday evening that destroyed a barn at 8429 N. Chase Road in Post Falls, Kootenai County fire officials said.
Thirty firefighters from Kootenai County and Northern Lakes fire departments halted the blaze before it could spread to the house about 100 to 150 feet away, said Jim Lyon, public information officer for Kootenai County Fire Department.
The owners were home and spotted smoke and flames shortly after 6:30 p.m.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control in about 45 minutes, and there were no injuries, Lyon said.
The barn was used primarily for storage.
In addition to the propane tank, which was believed to hold about 25 gallons, the barn contained chemicals and oil.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
– Staff reports