Attorney General's News Release
March 21, 2006
Social worker pleads guilty to three counts of defrauding Missouri Medicaid program; ordered to repay state $27,690
Mexico, MO. — A licensed clinical social worker who admitted she billed the Missouri Medicaid program for therapy she didn't provide has been ordered to pay the state $27,690 and placed on probation for five years. Cheryl Jean Apollo (DOB - 2/9/47), of Morton, Ill., pleaded guilty Monday (March 20) to two counts of stealing by deceit and one count of making a false statement to receive a health care payment.
In addition to ordering her to repay the state $17,690 in restitution and $10,000 for investigative costs, Lincoln County Circuit Judge Dan Dildine sentenced Apollo to concurrent terms of seven years on each of the stealing counts and four years on the false statement charge. The court suspended execution of the sentence and placed Apollo on supervised probation for five years.
At the time of the fraud, Apollo was an employee of Evergreen Behavioral Services, located in Mexico, Mo. She was charged by Audrain County Prosecuting Attorney Jason Lamb; he was assisted by attorneys and staff with the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of Attorney General Jay Nixon's office. The case was transferred to Lincoln County from Audrain County on a change of venue.
According to the probable cause statement filed with the charges, Apollo claimed she provided numerous therapy sessions for clients that did not occur and then submitted bills for payment to the Medicaid program. The charges cover fraudulent claims made in 2002 and 2003.
The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Attorney General's Office, formed by Nixon in 1994, has authority under state law to investigate and prosecute, both civilly and criminally, allegations of fraud against Missouri's Medicaid program.
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 the Press Secretary.
E-mail Phone: 573-751-8844 Fax: 573-751-5818