Vero Beach acupuncturist Jill Jaynes arrested on fraud, racketeering charges

Mary Helen Moore | Treasure Coast Newspapers

Show Caption Hide Caption Indian River Crime rate is on the rise - 2017 Statistics The Florida Department of Law Enforcement reported 3,341 murders, rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, larcenies and motor vehicle thefts throughout the county, the seven crimes tracked by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. That's up 7 percent from 2016. GINNY BEAGAN/TCPALM

This story has been modified from its original version. The state brought the charges and will prosecute the case, not federal officials.

VERO BEACH — An acupuncturist whose billing practices came under fire in Indian River County two years ago was arrested at her Vero Beach office at noon Wednesday on racketeering and fraud charges.

Jill Jaynes, 56, was charged with organized fraud above $50,000, racketeering, making false insurance claims of more than $100,000, illegally waiving deductibles or copays and patient brokering.

Her arrest warrant was not available Wednesday. Jaynes was being held Wednesday evening in the Indian River County Jail without bail.

More: Laurence Reisman: Aggressive action stops health insurance abuse

More: Audit: 'Total lack of oversight' led to theft of more than $300K from Emergency Services in Indian River County

Jaynes' Absolute Integrated Medicine, 1575 Indian River Boulevard, collected more than $1.2 million from the county for claims in the 2016 fiscal year, TCPalm reported at the time.

That total made it the second-highest paid provider for those on the county health insurance plan. Indian River Medical Center topped the list that year, receiving $1.6 million, while Sebastian River Medical Center, third highest, collected about $560,000.

Jaynes' cost to the county had nearly quadrupled over four years.

Suzanne Boyll, the county's human resources director, found the acupuncturist waived copays for visits to encourage use and saddled the county with 60 percent of the service costs.

More: Treasure Coast dermatologist Tim Ioannides pays $2.5 million to settle fake billing lawsuit

More: Former Vero Beach doctor Johnny Benjamin sentenced to life in prison

The discovery prompted county officials to limit acupuncture visits to 26 per year and cap reimbursements at $1,500.

Nobody answered the phone Wednesday at Jaynes' office, whose phone mail system referred to the practice as Acupuncture Center of Vero Beach.

Jaynes' medical license remained active. The Health Department did not list any public complaints or disciplinary actions for Jaynes.