EX-Worker of a Psychology Clinic Convicted for Role in Swindling at least 1.5 million U.S. dollars from State Medicaid Agency
Heidi Robertson, a former worker of Birmingham Area Psychology Clinic, was convicted to one year and six month and directed to reimburse 850,000 U.S. dollars by Judge R. David Proctor, for conspiring to commit health fraud by filing falsified claims to the Alabama Medicaid for persons and group counseling services for at-danger youths while she was working at Capstone Medical Resource LLC.
Birmingham, Alabama – Prim Escalona, United States Attorney; Steve Marshall, Alabama Attorney General; and Special Agent Derrick Jackson in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services -OIG reported the conviction of a woman, on 17th November 2020, for role and participation in a conspiracy to swindle at 1.5 million U.S. dollars from the Alabama Medicaid Agency. Heidi Robertson, age 35, worked as the primary insurance biller at a psychology clinic located in Birmingham area that charged the Medicaid Agency for counseling services that were never offered.
Heidi Robertson was convicted to one year and six month and directed to reimburse 850,000 U.S. dollars by Judge R. David Proctor, United States District Judge, after she admitted guilty, to one conspiracy count to commit health fraud by filing falsified claims to the Alabama Medicaid for persons and group counseling services for at-danger youths while she was working at Capstone Medical Resource LLC, earlier this year. Sharon D. Waltz, the facility owner and ex-Birmingham psychologist, admitted guilty in 2019 at least 1.5 million U.S. dollars from the Medicaid program. Sharon D. Waltz is set to convicted by Judge R. David Proctor on 10th December 2020.
An inquiry was started by the Program Integrity Division of the Alabama Medicaid Agency following an audit established that billings presented by Capstone for Counselling services had skyrocketed from 99,000 U.S. dollars in 2015 to over 2 million U.S. dollars in 2017. Program Integrity Division of the Alabama Medicaid Agency referred its discoveries to the Attorney General – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit after Sharon D. Waltz reimbursed Heidi Robertson a 10% commission for entire claims reimbursed by the Medicaid program. Heidi Robertson was hired by Sharon D. Waltz from 2016 to late 2017.
United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona stated that Heidi Robertson’s conduct showed reckless negligence for at-danger youth and she will now meet the consequences of those conducts. United States Attorney Escalona further added that the conviction, carried out on 17th November 2020, shows the relentless and persistent dedication and commitment by the Office of the United States Attorney and their law enforcement associates to protecting and safeguarding the resources allocated to the most vulnerable members of the society more so children.
Steve Marshall, Alabama Attorney General stated that it is suitable that this accused person, Heidi Robertson, face severe punishment for participating in unlawful and dishonest conspiracy to line her pocket and satisfy her gluttony at the expense of needy kids by claiming reimbursements for services that were never offered. Marshall further said that as Alabama Attorney General he remains committed and dedicated with his federal law enforcement partners to hold accountable individuals who defraud the public treasury and betray at-danger children they were entrusted to serve.
Special Agent Derrick L. Jackson in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services stated that the conviction, carried out on 17th November 2020, would serve as reminder and warning to every individual who transacts business with federally funded health care programs. Special Agent Jackson further assured that they will not entertain and tolerate fraudulent practitioners who dishonestly enrich themselves and satisfy their greed at the expense of patients and the United States citizens.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, the Program Integrity Division of the Alabama Medicaid Agency, and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the matter. United States Assistant Attorney J.B. Ward and United States Assistant Attorney General Bruce Lieberman, working as United States Special Assistant Attorney prosecuted the matter.