Social worker massages the truth to make money

After receiving a complaint about the alleged psychotherapy services of Geraldine Taeckens, the Corporate and Financial Investigations Department began a two-year investigation in January 2014. Taeckens is a social worker in small town of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

A joint investigation between CFI and the Sault Ste. City Police Department revealed that Taeckens was falsely submitting claims as psychotherapy when she was merely performing massages on her clients.

Taeckens also hosted peer-to-peer group sessions for families with autistic children. The sessions resulted in claims being submitted for psychotherapy, but in most instances, Taeckens never spent any time providing counseling. Taeckens’ practice caused a fictitious diagnosis to be attached to every member who received the alleged psychotherapy.

Taeckens was charged with seven counts of health care fraud by the Chippewa County Prosecutor’s Office.  A jury found Taeckens guilty on six of the seven counts after a four-day trial in April 2016.

We urge Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network members who suspect health care fraud to call our Anti-Fraud Hotline at 1-800-482-3787.