The Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) recently secured guilty pleas against four healthcare providers in four separate Medicaid fraud cases around the state, bringing more than $137,000 back to the state’s Medicaid program.

“The Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit helps ensure that dollars allocated for Medicaid services are spent as they were intended,” Attorney General Bob Ferguson said. “Every bit adds up so we encourage people to report fraud when they see it.”

Peggy Ruth Kerr

Charges were filed by the AGO in March against Peggy Ruth Kerr in Thurston County Superior Court, alleging that she attempted to conceal the fact that she and the Medicaid recipient had moved to Nevada for years, where she was ineligible to receive Washington Medicaid benefits.

This week, Kerr pled guilty to three counts of Attempted Medicaid False Statement and has repaid to taxpayers the full $100,000 that she unlawfully collected over the past several years. She will be sentenced in Thurston County Superior Court in November.

The case was investigated by MFCU Investigator David Fenn and prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Marty Raap.

Chanell Flock

The AGO charged Chanell Flock in Spokane County Superior Court in June 2013, alleging that she billed Medicaid for care she never actually provided to three different recipients from January 2007 through October 2011.

Flock pled guilty on April 7, 2014, to two counts of Medicaid False Statement and has repaid to taxpayers the full $20,053 she unlawfully collected over the past years. MFCU Investigator Larry Carlier conducted the investigation, and Assistant Attorney General Marty Raap prosecuted the case.

Tiamila Davis

The AGO charged Tiamila Davis in Kitsap County Superior Court in November 2013, alleging that she provided healthcare services to a Kitsap County Medicaid recipient while Davis was really living in Louisiana.

Davis pled guilty to counts of First Degree Theft and Medicaid False Statement on April 2, 2014 and agreed to pay $12,326.48 in restitution. Kitsap County Aging and Long Term Care referred the case to the AGO. MFCU Investigator Mariya Kunin investigated, and Assistant Attorney General Marty Raap prosecuted the case.

Eunmi Kim

The AGO charged Eunmi Kim in Snohomish County Superior Court on April 22, 2014.  That day, she pled guilty to Attempted Possession of Stolen Property for receiving Medicaid dollars for individualized care to Medicaid recipients, when in fact she was caring for multiple recipients at the same time.

Kim agreed to pay more than $6,000 in restitution and fines. MFCU Investigator Dave Fenn investigated, and Assistant Attorney General Marty Raap prosecuted the case.

Medicaid Fraud Control in Washington

The Attorney General’s MFCU is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of healthcare provider fraud committed against the state’s Medicaid program. The unit also coordinates with local law enforcement authorities to investigate and prosecute abuse and neglect in cases involving vulnerable adults residing in Medicaid-funded residential facilities.

State Medicaid authorities, including the Health Care Authority and Department of Social and Health Services, assisted significantly in the fraud enforcement of these matters.

• Report suspected Medicaid fraud: 360-586-8888 or MFCUreferrals@atg.wa.gov.
• You can also report provider fraud via the Attorney General’s Office Web site.

The DSHS Office of Fraud & Accountability investigates client fraud.  You can report Medicaid Client Fraud via the Department’s Online Complaint Form, call the Welfare Fraud Hotline at 1-800-562-6906 or send the complaint to Welfare Fraud Hotline, P.O. Box 45817, Olympia, Washington 98504-5817.