Pa. AG: Philly woman's Medicaid fraud cheated children of health care
LaGracia Burnett, of the 8600 block of Forrest Avenue, worked as a behavioral specialist and mobile therapist for three different behavioral-health providers from January 2013 and May 2016 when she falsely billed for at least $211,942 in services for children, many of whom have been diagnosed with autism
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A 59-year-old East Mount Airy woman waived a preliminary hearing and will face trial on charges that she committed more than $210,000 in Medicaid fraud for services she did not provide to children, many of whom have been diagnosed with autism, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Thursday.
LaGracia Burnett, of the 8600 block of Forrest Avenue, worked as a behavioral specialist and mobile therapist for three different health providers from January 2013 and May 2016 when she falsely billed for at least $211,942 in services for children, Shapiro said. During this time, Burnett also was employed as a per diem substitute teacher for the School District of Philadelphia and S4Teachers, a substitute-teacher placement service.
Last month, a statewide investigating grand jury recommended charges against Burnett.
"When people commit Medicaid fraud, they're stealing tax dollars from people who are in real need of these services. These charges are part of a renewed focus by my office on this kind of criminal activity," Shapiro said in a statement.