Penalized $359,266, Lynn Therapist Cries Foul Over State Regulation by Thor Jourgensen Said O’Connor Who Has Run Advance “Dr
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2020 Penalized $359,266, Lynn therapist cries foul over state regulation By Thor Jourgensen said O’Connor who has run Advance “Dr. Joseph O’Connor improperly ITEM STAFF Physical Therapy & Sport Rehabili- submitted claims to MassHealth us- tation at 1 Market St. for 22 years. ing his own billing provider identi - LYNN — A longtime local physi- The state auditor’s of ce last fall cation number for physical therapy cal therapist said the regulation at reviewed O’Connor’s MassHealth that was provided by physical thera- the center of improper billing accu- billing practices between 2015- py assistants,” the audit stated. sations made against him is at odds 2018 and released a report in Jan- State Sen. Brendan Crighton said with other insurance practices and uary ordering O’Connor to pay back he and fellow legislators are aware his methods for most effectively $359,266. of O’Connor’s concerns. treating patients. MassHealth therapy provider reg- “We’re certainly happy to help Lynn native Joseph O’Connor said ulation Section 432.412 of Title 130 out,” Crighton said. ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK he will ght to get the regulation of the Code of Massachusetts Reg- O’Connor does not dispute that struck down and reach out to Lynn’s ulations (CMR) does not allow pay- physical therapy assistants in his Joseph O’Connor is disputing a claim that he legislative delegation to begin that ment for therapy services provided practice were treating patients who improperly billed MassHealth for $359,266 process. by physical therapy assistants, even had MassHealth as their insurance. worth of services which MassHealth says he “The whole issue is one of style if they are provided under the su- did not provide, saying he’s a “victim of a bro- and how we perform our services,” pervision of a licensed therapist. THERAPIST, A3 ken system.” Swampscott remembers Oh deer, Breakheart a hero 13 years later puts winter on paws By Gayla Cawley The U.S. Marine By Elyse Carmosino From left, Anthony ITEM STAFF Corps League ITEM STAFF McElligott and his holds a memo- dog Tatum, Nick SWAMPSCOTT — It’s been 13 years since U.S. Ma- rial service for SAUGUS — Although the North Shore saw a Tuccinardi and rine Corps Capt. Jennifer Harris was killed when her Jennifer Harris, dreary start to February, the weather didn’t deter his dog Mario, and helicopter was shot down in Iraq, but the grieving a Marine pilot dog walkers from coming out in force to Saugus’ Mark Assad and hasn’t stopped for her father. killed in Iraq Breakheart Reservation Saturday. his dog Ralph gath- Dealing with his 28-year-old daughter’s death became 13 years ago, at Because the park spans over 700 acres of trees, er before setting even more dif cult for Raymond Harris four years ago the Swampscott ponds, marshes, and rivers, some dog owners say off on a trail at when his wife, Rosalie, died after a lengthy battle with Cemetery Sun- Breakheart beats the dog park when it comes to Breakheart Reser- multiple sclerosis. day afternoon. picking a spot to bring their pets. vation in Saugus “I’m here every day, seven days a week,” said Harris, While they waited for a friend near the entrance on Saturday. 74, who was standing by Jennifer’s grave in Swampscott ITEM PHOTO | of the Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center, Melrose OLIVIA FALCIGNO SWAMPSCOTT, A3 BREAKHEART, A3 ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK Lynn eld studies space crunch in elementary schools By Thor Jourgensen Some of the answers could be Building Committee to dig deep- dren 5 years old and younger en- increase while Tappe will offer ITEM STAFF offered at a discussion tenta- er into space options encom- tering schools as young families perspectives at the upcoming tively scheduled for Feb. 12 in passing renovations or construc- move into communities. meeting on how Huckleberry LYNNFIELD — The Huckle- the Merritt Media Center room tion ideas. The increase is obvious and and Summer Street can address berry and Summer Street ele- mentary schools are brimming at MarketStreet. Dolan said He credited Selectman Chris ominous in Lynn eld with kin- space needs. with students and the discus- New England School Develop- Barrett and School Superin- dergarten enrollment growing Dolan said it’s not too soon for sion on how to provide more ment Council (NESDEC) repre- tendent Jane Tremblay with and setting the stage for in- town of cials and residents to space has begun. sentatives and Tappe Architects making the need for elementary creases in older grades as chil- address school space concerns. “We’re running at full capacity. of Boston will discuss space op- school space a priority. dren move from one grade to the School projects typically take Lynn eld is rapidly turning into tions. Lynn eld is not alone in its next. a year and a half to plan and a younger community, so what Dolan anticipates the dis- elementary school space crunch NESDEC will sketch out the launch. do you do?” asked Town Admin- cussion will prompt the Board with Dolan pointing to an “ex- broader picture illustrating istrator Robert Dolan. of Selectmen to form a School plosion” in the number of chil- Lynn eld’s younger population LYNNFIELD, A3 State Of cials con rm rst Vaping blamed for suspensions case of new virus in Massachusetts. A2 in Lynn middle schools LOOK! Lopez, Shakira By Gayla Cawley 707), but there’s still some cause for con- bring Latina air to ITEM STAFF cern. In comparison to other large urban dis- halftime show. A8 LYNN — Suspensions are down in the tricts, Lynn’s suspension rate last year Lynn Public Schools, but administrators was lower than Brockton, but higher Sports are blaming student vaping for a spike Classical swim team in disciplinary incidents at the middle than Boston, Lawrence and Spring eld. crowned city school level. Although suspensions are down 29 per- champions. B1 cent in the district’s high schools, there’s Data shared by Superintendent Dr. Patrick Tutwiler showed that 6.8 per- been a 60 percent spike at the middle St. Mary’s boy’s cent of the district’s student population school level. Tutwiler said that increase hockey funk were disciplined with out-of-school sus- is due to a large number of student va- continues in loss. B1 ping incidents, particularly among sixth pensions last school year, which is down PHOTO | ASSOCIATED PRESS a tenth of a point from the previous year. graders. Lynn eld boys hockey “We have some work to do with weaving scores win over That suspension rate matches the dis- Kansas City Chiefs’ Derrick Nnadi plays with the information about vaping into our cur- Amesbury. B1 trict’s all-time low from the 2016-2017 confetti following his team’s win over the San school year, he said. riculum,” said Tutwiler. “It’s a challenge Francisco 49ers Sunday in Super Bowl LIV. For The number of total suspensions fell story, see Sports, Page B1. 6.35 percent from 2018 to 2019 (755 to SUSPENSIONS, A3 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 POLICE/FIRE .............................A6 COMICS/DIVERSIONS ........... B4-5 HIGH 49° VOL. 142, ISSUE 46 OPINION ...................................A4 LOOK! .......................................A8 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 LOW 36° COMMUNITY CALENDAR ............A5 SPORTS ................................ B1-3 HEALTH .....................................B8 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2020 OBITUARIES Theresa H. Hinds, 89 Of cials con rm rst case of 1931-2020 Theresa Harriet (Covey) new virus in Massachusetts Hinds, age 89, died at her home on Sunday, Feb. 2, BOSTON (AP) — A tentially exposing others tional Airport was iden- Commission. 2020. She was the wife of Boston man has tested in a hospital setting, they ti ed as one of 20 U.S. If anyone on the ight Stanley Hinds, with whom she positive for a new virus, said in a conference call airports where CDC of- needed to be noti ed that shared 71 years of marriage. the rst case in the state, with reporters Saturday. cials will screen inter- a fellow passenger was Born on Jan. 6, 1931, The- Massachusetts health of - Leaders of the health de- national passengers for diagnosed with the virus, resa was the daughter of the cials said Saturday. partment and health com- virus symptoms. Logan that would be up to the late Wesley and Elizabeth The man, who is in his mission said they wanted has three daily non-stop CDC, said Dr. Larry Mad- (Baker) Covey. She was born 20s and a student at the to emphasize that the risk ights from China, though off, medical director at the and raised in Lynn and at- University of Massachu- to the public from the new none originate in China’s health department’s infec- tended Lynn schools. She was setts Boston, recently virus that hit China and central Hubei province or tious disease bureau. The a loving mother, homemaker traveled to Wuhan, China, has spread to other na- its capital, Wuhan. man’s few close contacts, and retiree from Raytheon. and sought medical care tions remains low in the The plans for Logan could including household mem- Theresa enjoyed ceramics, soon after his return to state. They said they were change, now that the fed- bers and medical person- knitting and crocheting, and Massachusetts, according grateful to the man for eral government declared nel who treated him, are shared her talent with family to the Massachusetts De- seeking medical attention a public health emergency being monitored for symp- and friends. partment of Public Health immediately upon his re- Friday, according to Mas- toms, Madoff added.