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Medicaid Program Fraud Runs Rampant

Ronnette Brown receives a four year federal prison sentence for Medicaid program fraud. Brown pleads guilty to 23 counts of health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Further, Brown must pay restitution in the amount of $2,033,962.

Brown is the former owner of now defunct social services business, WeMPACT, LLC, with offices in Bristol and Torrington. Between August 2010 and April 2014, Brown bills Medicaid for false psychotherapy services. To point out, Brown is not operating alone and has a co-conspirator by the name of Beverly Coker. Coker is a licensed clinical social worker who owns and operates New Beginnings Family Center, LLC, in Hartford, Connecticut.

Perils of Sharing a Medicaid Provider Number

Within the construct of the scheme, Brown separately conspires with Beverly Coker and another unnamed individual to bill Medicaid for other psychotherapy services. Specifically, Coker facilitates the fraud by allowing Brown to bill Medicaid for psychotherapy services using her Medicaid provider number. The most compelling evidence indicates that Coker supposedly performs the hoax services. In reality, however, unlicensed individuals perform the services, or the services are not provided at all. Under the scheme, Coker withholds 30 percent of the proceeds, and remits the remaining 70 percent to Brown and an unnamed individual.

As part of her plea, Coker admits to defrauding Medicaid of approximately $214,555 throughout the scheme. Currently, Coker awaits sentencing. Equally important, three other individuals were charged and convicted of health care fraud offenses stemming from the Medicaid program investigation.

For the record, the prosecutions of Brown and Coker are part of a larger investigation into health care fraud and behavioral health. The investigation includes a number of health care providers who perform outpatient services. Professionals affected include psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors and licensed alcohol and drug counselors.