Attorney General's News Release

January 18, 2012

Attorney General Koster reaches settlement in Medicaid fraud case -- Provider to pay state $27,190 --

Jefferson City, Mo.— Attorney General Chris Koster today announced a settlement with Betty J. Berthelot, owner of Berthelot Counseling Company in Dexter, Missouri, for submitting false claims to Medicaid.

Koster said Berthelot knowingly submitted false claims for counseling services she did not provide and supplied the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit with medical records that had been altered in order to defraud the state. As part of the settlement, Berthelot admitted that she was not following established Medicaid rules and procedures governing the delivery of counseling services.

“Providers like Berthelot are reimbursed for counseling children on Medicaid. In this case, the recipients did not receive the necessary services,” Koster said. “I am committed to ensuring providers do what Medicaid pays them to do.”

Koster said the settlement requires Berthelot to pay $27,190 in restitution and to forfeit her Medicaid-provider status. Failure to comply with the terms of the settlement could result in her criminal prosecution.

Koster encouraged citizens to report suspected Medicaid provider fraud, abuse, or neglect to his Medicaid Fraud Hotline toll free at 800-286-3932, e-mail the complaint to attorney.general@ago.mo.gov, or complete a complaint form at the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Website at http://ago.mo.gov/divisions/medicaid-fraud-control-unit-faqs.htm.