Attorney General's News Release

September 7, 1999

Kirksville nurse sentenced today on charges related to Medicaid fraud

Kirksville, Mo. — A Kirksville registered nurse was sentenced today in Adair County Circuit Court to two five-year concurrent sentences in prison on one felony count of Medicaid fraud and one felony count of fraudulently attempting to obtain a controlled substance.

Circuit Court Judge Russell E. Steele handed down the sentence to Patsy A. Lancaster (DOB - 2/27/50), who pleaded guilty last month to the charges brought by Attorney General Jay Nixon in May. Lancaster also was order to pay $215 in restitution to the Missouri Medicaid program.

Lancaster admitted to using another person's prescription to obtain the controlled substance hydrocodone from a Kirksville pharmacy. She falsely represented to the pharmacy that the drugs were for a resident of a group home in Milan where she was formerly the director of nursing, but that she then kept the drugs for her own use.

Lancaster also admitted to knowingly making a misrepresentation to the pharmacy that caused the pharmacy to bill the Missouri Medicaid program for a prescription that had been provided to a Medicaid recipient, when in fact, Lancaster kept the drugs.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818