February 6, 2017
Las Vegas, NV – Nevada Attorney General Adam Paul Laxalt announced that Samantha Thomas, 30, of Las Vegas, was sentenced today in a Medicaid fraud case involving the submission of false Medicaid claims.
Thomas was sentenced for one misdemeanor offense of submitting false claims, Medicaid fraud, by Justice Court Judge Eric Goodman. Goodman sentenced Thomas to six months incarceration, suspended, performance of 50 hours of community service and payment of $581 in restitution. The fraud occurred during October 2015.
“Individuals that commit fraud against the Medicaid system, no matter what the dollar amount might be, have stolen from the Medicaid system which needs that money for services that are needed by Medicaid recipients,” said Laxalt.
The investigation began after the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) received information from Medicaid’s Surveillance and Utilization Review (SUR) unit that Thomas had allegedly not provided behavioral health services to a Medicaid recipient. The investigation revealed that Thomas had produced fictitious documentation, including progress notes and time and attendance documents, to Caring Hands Behavioral Health for the services she allegedly provided to the Medicaid recipient. The documentation was false as it contained information for services that did not occur, or were for services that were not for the length of time or type of service as noted in the documentation.
The MFCU investigates and prosecutes financial fraud by those providing healthcare services or goods to Medicaid patients. The MFCU also investigates and prosecutes instances of elder abuse or neglect. Persons convicted of Medicaid fraud may also be administratively excluded from future Medicaid and Medicare participation. Anyone wishing to report suspicions regarding any of these concerns may contact the MFCU at 702-486-3420 or 775-684-1100.
The case was prosecuted by Andrew Schulke, Senior Deputy Attorney General.
THOMAS, SAMANTHA
(Photo courtesy of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)
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