Monmouth County Psychologist Charged with Submitting $15,000 in Fraudulent Claims for Patients

A Matawan-based psychologist is charged with submitting approximately 120 fraudulent insurance claims on behalf of two patients totaling more than $15,000, announced Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Edward M. Merski, 62, of Old Bridge, is charged with one count each of second degree Health Care Claims Fraud, second degree Insurance Fraud, second degree Witness Tampering and third degree Theft by Deception following an investigation by the Office’s Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Bureau.

The investigation revealed Merski, a psychologist with an office on Nawatam Way in Matawan, submitted about 120 fraudulent claims to Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield between January 2009 and June 2013. The claims, totaling more than $15,000, were submitted on behalf of two patients. Merski is also charged with witness tampering after the investigation revealed he offered money to the patients in exchange for their dropping a civil lawsuit which could have exposed his fraudulent billing practices.

Merski is free after posting $50,000 bail, as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Francis J. Vernoia.

If convicted, Merski faces a maximum of 10 years in a New Jersey state prison on each of the second degree charges, and up to 5 years in a state prison on the third degree charge.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Melanie Falco, of the Office’s Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Bureau.