Monroe Caregiver Booked With Medicaid Fraud

MORNOE, La. (AP) — State Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says a 62-year-old Monroe woman has been booked on charges of Medicaid fraud.

Caldwell tells The News-Star Stella Owens was arrested by the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Ouachita Parish deputies on Thursday.

Owens was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on one count of Medicaid fraud.

According to a report, Owens, a personal care attendant, submitted false timesheets to her employer claiming to be providing personal care services to a Medicaid patient at the patient's home even though the patient was actually hospitalized at the time. This resulted in the Medicaid program being falsely billed $13,718.

Personal care attendants are hired by Medicaid providers to care for physically handicapped Medicaid recipients. They provide caregiver services such as cooking, grooming, and bathing.