In a recent crackdown on Medicaid fraud, Attorney General Catherine Hanaway's office successfully achieved a conviction against Elizabeth Oker for filing false claims for personal care services not provided. Oker, who took advantage of the Missouri Medicaid's Consumer-Directed Personal Care Program, billed for care she did not deliver to two individuals, one being her brother and the other a family friend, swindling the system out of $4,254.30.
Details of the case reveal a more disquieting truth about the conditions in which Oker's brother was living in. As mentioned on the Missouri Attorney General's Office website, "stealing Medicaid funds alone is egregious, but depriving patients of much-needed services and exposing them to deplorable conditions is unacceptable," told Attorney General Hanaway. The disturbing living situation described by the victims included bed bugs, trash buildup, an odor of deceased animals, lack of proper clothing, and daily aggressive behavior from Oker fueled by alcohol consumption.
Oker submitted to a guilty plea on one count of Healthcare Fraud and received a punitive sentence that comprises repaying the funds fraudulently obtained and a civil penalty, totaling $9,254.30. The exposal and referral of Oker's fraudulent actions to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) stemmed from the scrutiny of the Department of Social Services, Missouri Medicaid Audit and Compliance.
Reiterating the seriousness of these crimes, MFCU Chief Counsel Arvids V. Petersons said on Missouri Attorney General's Office, "Those who commit Medicaid fraud aren’t just breaking the law; in this case, they are depriving recipients of essential care and putting recipients’ health and safety at risk." His comment underscores the mission of the MFCU to both pursue legal action against fraudsters and protect vulnerable populations within Medicaid-funded environments.
Interested attorneys looking to further this cause of justice and public service are invited to review opportunities on the Attorney General’s office website.
