Other LanguagesOLYMPIA –A Grays Harbor woman is accused of fraudulently billing the state for 13 months of in-care for a Medicaid recipient. The problem, according to the Attorney General’s Office, is that she was married to him.
State law prohibits individuals from receiving taxpayer dollars for providing in-home care to a disabled spouse. Guerrero married her client, Mark Dowell, on March 18, 2006.
According to documents filed in Grays Harbor Superior Court in Montesano, the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit alleged that Guerrero knew the marriage disqualified her from being her spouse’s paid in-home care provider but continued billing for services. She was paid more than $9,300 between from April 1, 2006, to March 31, 2007.
Sharon Guerrero pleaded not guilty Monday to all 10 felony charges filed by the Attorney General’s Office.
Assistant Attorney General Aileen Miller is prosecuting the case. Attorney General’s Office Investigator Bill Lemp conducted the investigation.
The Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of healthcare provider fraud committed against the state’s Medicaid program. In addition, the unit coordinates the investigation and prosecution of abuse and neglect involving vulnerable adults residing in Medicaid funded residential facilities with local law enforcement authorities through a statewide contact network.
-30-
Contacts:
Janelle Guthrie, AGO Communications Director, (360) 586-0725