The Attorney General’s office announced charges against a local nurse for allegedly defrauding Medicaid of over $30,000. The office has also accused the woman of various tax crimes in New York in connection to these allegations.
If convicted, the nurse could face up to 15 years in prison.
Details of the investigation: Multiple divisions involved
The nurse was the subject of an investigation by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, New York State Department of Health, New York State Department of Financial Services and the Investigation Bureau of the New York Attorney General’s office. The investigation resulted in evidence to support an indictment.
As a result, the state formally charged the nurse with larceny, forgery, falsifying business records, offering a false instrument for filing and tax fraud crimes.
Results of the investigation: Evidence to support criminal charges
The allegations involve incidents from 2013 to 2016. During this period, the Attorney General’s office claims the nurse conspired with another employee of the hospital to falsify timesheets to make it appear she was working when she was not. The office further states the nurse would provide kickback payments to the employee for the task.
While receiving income for the alleged “no-show” position at the hospital, the nurse is also accused of applying for and receiving Medicaid benefits. The government claims the application states the nurse has no employment and no form of income. During this period, she allegedly received over $30,000 in Medicaid benefits.
A local report notes the case was adjourned to July 17, 2018.
Lessons from the investigation: Take allegations seriously
The broad scale of this investigation provides an example of how serious the government takes accusations of wrongdoing in the medical field. Nurses that face these accusations are subject to penalties that can range from licensing issues to jail time. Nurses can protect their professional interests by seeking legal counsel.