[MM Curator Summary]: Pamela Bell falsified claims to make it look like her mental health company was using licensed therapists.
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KAIT) – A White County woman faces two counts of Medicaid fraud after authorities said she turned in over 300 fraudulent claims to the system over a three-year period.
Pamela Townsend-Bell of Judsonia was arrested earlier this month after an investigation by the Arkansas Attorney General’s office.
A statement posted Tuesday said the allegations centered around Townsend-Bell fraudulently billing Medicaid while owning the mental health agency, “I’m a 10 Wellness Center, LLC”, in Searcy.
“Townsend-Bell billed Medicaid for one-on-one individual counseling services provided by unlicensed staff, listing herself as the performing provider,” Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said. “The unlicensed staff included non-paid interns and office staff. Medicaid requires these types of outpatient mental health services to be provided by licensed therapists.”
The fraudulent claims made by Townsend-Bell were about $18,600, according to Rutledge.
She added Townsend-Bell purposely made false statements for payments that violated state Medicaid rules, plus made false entries in medical records “indicating she provided services to Medicaid recipients.”
Townsend-Bell appeared in Pulaski County District Court on March 18 and was released, pending further proceedings on the issue, Rutledge said.
Clipped from: https://www.kait8.com/2022/03/31/woman-charged-with-medicaid-fraud/