The Washington State Attorney General’s Office has filed criminal charges against Michael Mann, owner of Wheelchairs Plus Inc., in Thurston County Superior Court. The AGO alleges Mann committed the crimes of First Degree Theft and Medicaid False Statement when he fraudulently provided 119 Medicaid recipients with used or refurbished wheelchairs while billing Medicaid as if they were new. Mann billed the State Medicaid system a total of $606,980 for the wheelchairs.
Overview of the alleged scheme
As stated in the Certification for Determination of Probable Cause, the AGO investigation found that from 2006 – 2012, the defendant allegedly purchased previously used wheelchairs from websites such as craigslist.org or from nursing homes. The defendant would then refurbish each chair with a new coat of paint or replacement parts and then put a new label or serial number on it.
After the defendant had delivered the used wheelchair to a Medicaid client, he would allegedly submit a false claim to Medicaid stating that he had provided a new wheelchair.
The arraignment is currently scheduled for August 12th in Thurston County Superior Court. The charges contained in the information are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
“The Attorney General’s Office will vigorously investigate and prosecute the defrauding of taxpayers,” said Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
Medicaid Fraud Control in Washington state
The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit 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 website www.atg.wa.gov.
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.
