Woman, 55, booked in Medicaid fraud

A Ponchatoula woman has been booked on 22 felony counts as a result of a Medicaid investigation, the state Attorney General’s Office reported Tuesday.

The caregiver submitted false time sheets to her employer and forged signatures indicating she provided services to a Medicaid patient at the same times she was actually working for a second employer, according to a news release from the attorney general.

Bertha Smith, 55, was booked on five felony counts of Medicaid fraud, 10 felony counts of filing or maintaining false public records and seven felony counts of forgery, the Attorney General’s Office reported.

She was arrested by Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigators Monday with assistance from the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office and was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, according to the release.

Comments

1) Comment by gofigger - 17/10/2012

Makes me wonder if more money is stolen by these thieves and individuals using these funds fraudulently, than is used for the purpose intended.

2) Comment by tradewinns - 17/10/2012

anyone cheating the medicare/medicaid system must be caught and punished severly, including this woman. that being said, how much money did she steal from medicaid? is she one of the top ten fraudulent producers in the state? how much do the top ten steal?