Attorney General's News Release

December 30, 2009

Attorney General Koster files criminal charges in Medicaid fraud case

--Wright County woman faces 13 felony counts--

Jefferson City, Mo.-Attorney General Chris Koster said today that a Mountain Grove licensed professional counselor has been charged with 11 felony counts of Medicaid fraud, 1 count of obstruction, and 1 count of stealing by deceit. Wright County Prosecuting Attorney Jason MacPherson joined Koster in filing the charges against Lorraine R. Kusior (DOB 4/1/53), who is charged with submitting false reimbursement claims to Medicaid for counseling services she did not perform and providing false patient records with the intention to defraud the state and MO HealthNet.

"One of my top priorities as Attorney General is to enforce our laws against those who cheat Missouri taxpayers by committing Medicaid fraud," Koster said. "We will continue to search for individuals who would perpetrate this kind of fraud, and recover public money stolen from our health care system."

Koster said his Medicaid Fraud Unit's review of Kusior's subpoenaed progress notes and Medicaid claims found evidence of inflated billing. He said Kusior allegedly has fraudulently billed more than $12,000 to Medicaid.

Kusior is charged with two Class D felonies, punishable by up to 4 years in prison for each violation, and 11 Class C felonies, punishable by up to 7 years for each violation, plus penalties and restitution.

As in all criminal cases, the charges against the defendant are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Koster said citizens should report suspected Medicaid fraud to the Attorney General's Office Medicaid fraud hotline at 800-286-3932, to the Department of Social Services' Investigation Unit at 573-751-3285, or e-mail the complaint to ask.mhd@dss.mo.gov.