Denver resident Natasha Sawyer, 44, faces serious charges due to an alleged Medicaid fraud scheme that has reportedly cost the taxpayer a staggering $1.2 million. According to the Office of the Attorney General, Sawyer, who was a Medicaid biller at Element Medical Supply, is accused of submitting fraudulent claims for liquid nutrition products.
An exhaustive investigation led by the Colorado Department of Law's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit revealed that from May 2020 to March 2021, Sawyer may have submitted claims for an enteral formula, that amounted to millions of calories. However, a mere 5% of the billed product reached the patients in need. It turns out, that a specific username and IP address linked to the dubious activity could be traced back to Sawyer's location and identity. The gravity of the situation is further underscored, "Not only does taking advantage of the state’s Medicaid system harm all of us as taxpayers, it harms the entire health care system by threatening to erode trust in providers," stated Weiser, as per the Office of the Attorney General.
Sawyer is now charged with Medicaid fraud and waste, false claims of $1 million or more, and cybercrime theft of $1 million or more, which are both class two felonies. This case, represented by the number 24CR04818, has been filed in the Denver County District Court. It should be noted that in America's justice system, the filing of charges is a mere accusation, and that all defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty.
The financial backing for the Colorado Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is notable, as it receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with an award totaling $3,795,665 for the federal fiscal year 2024. The state of Colorado chips in the remaining 25%, which amounts to $1,265,221. The office of AG Phil Weiser is adamant that those exploiting Medicaid will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted, aiming to protect both the patients the system serves and the trust placed in healthcare providers.
