Ericka Thomas sentenced in Medicaid fraud scheme
MADISON -- Ericka Thomas of Milwaukee was sentenced on Friday, June 8th for convictions related to Medicaid fraud. Thomas is the second to be sentenced of seven defendants who were convicted in the Medicaid fraud scheme.
Judge Dennis Cimpl sentenced Thomas to four years in prison and eight years extended supervision. The judge also ordered restitution to Wisconsin Medicaid in the amount of $356,366.33, as well as multiple rehabilitative and educational conditions as part of the sentence.
According to the Department of Justice’s criminal complaints, the defendants “each submitted applications to Wisconsin Medicaid to become durable medical equipment providers. Each properly completed the application process and was granted a provider number and authorization to bill Medicaid for services provided.”
The complaint goes on to say the “claims that followed were primarily for halo cervical devices, tension scoliosis devices, and KAFO devices used to support the knee-ankle-foot. That equipment typically requires specialized medical treatment for installation and use so there should have been complementary claims from hospitals or physicians for the equipment claims. No complementary claims were filed, and further investigation revealed that the recipients for whom the devices were allegedly provided did not know the providers, nor did they have need for such orthotic devices.”
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