Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
A Shreveport-based counseling service, Community Health Care Solutions, LLC, along with the estate of its deceased owner Yolanda Burnom, has agreed to a $4.6 million settlement to resolve allegations of Medicaid fraud. The settlement addresses claims that the organization violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicaid for services not provided.
An investigation conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit uncovered a scheme where Community Health allegedly offered financial incentives to Medicaid recipients in exchange for their patient information. This information was reportedly used to bill Medicaid for crisis intervention services that were never rendered. Counselors at Community Health were instructed to fabricate notes for these nonexistent services.
A federal grand jury indicted Burnom on September 28, 2022, on charges including conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and wire fraud. Following her unexpected death four months later, civil litigation remained as the means for the United States to recover funds.
Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook stated, “This type of fraud will not be tolerated, and we will continue to work with our federal and state partners to root out corruption and recover money for the taxpayers.” Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows emphasized HHS-OIG's commitment "to safeguard taxpayer-funded benefit programs and investigate health care fraud."
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill commented on the efforts saying, “People who commit Medicaid fraud will be caught, prosecuted, and demanded to pay restitution.”
The settlement resulted from coordinated efforts by multiple agencies including the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa Theriot and Seth Reeg handled aspects of the case alongside HHS-OIG Special Agent Steven Cooper.
The settlement resolves allegations without any determination of liability.
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