AUSTIN — A Democratic advocacy group has asked the Texas Rangers, Travis County district attorney and State Auditor’s Office to investigate whether several state agencies misused taxpayer money to pay employees long after they left their jobs. The Lone Star Project on Tuesday sent letters … Read More
Should taxpayers pay severance to state employees to take the sting out of unexpected job losses or to protect the uncovered tails of the elected officeholders who fire them? The state’s legislative budget writers have promised to dig into stories … Read More
Americans who live in the two biggest states that haven’t expanded Medicaid have more complaints about health care costs and quality, according to a new survey released by the Texas Medical Center Health Policy Institute in Houston. They’d also like … Read More
After reports of state agencies keeping former employees on the payroll after they stopped working, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other agency heads have taken heat for stretching the rules on paid “emergency leave” to keep the ex-workers on … Read More
HOUSTON – A 20-count federal indictment has been unsealed following the arrest of the owner of KMD Healthcare Services Inc., and his brother on charges they engaged in a conspiracy involving fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid billing for ambulance services, announced … Read More
Subpar provider enrollment screening processes continue to plague Medicare and Medicaid, leaving both programs vulnerable to fraud and contributing to nearly $90 billion in improper payments in 2015, according to testimony during a House subcommittee hearing. In her testimony Tuesday, Ann … Read More
The prosecution and defense in the case of Dr. Howard S. Schneider, 78, each hired medical experts to diagnose Schneider, who has pleaded not guilty to those charges and one count of scheme to defraud. Schneider’s trial was set to … Read More
AUSTIN — Leaders in the Senate and House vowed Tuesday to crack down on widespread misuse of so-called emergency leave following reports by The Dallas Morning News that detailed dozens of cases in which employees continued to be paid months … Read More
A 36-year-old woman from Lubbock, Texas, Paula McNeal, who pleaded guilty in January 2016 to one count of health care fraud, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 18 months in federal prison and ordered … Read More
AUSTIN – Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush has spent nearly $1 million in taxpayer money to entice dozens of people fired by his administration to agree not to sue him or the agency, a practice that may run afoul … Read More
Bolstered by the federal health care law, the number of lower-income kids getting health coverage continues to rise. During 2014, the first full year of the law’s implementation, 91 percent of children who were eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s … Read More
PHILLIPS COUNTY, Ark. – A Phillips County woman was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of Medicaid fraud, according to Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. Jacqueline Young, 36, surrendered to the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office and was later released on her own recognizance, … Read More
AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott said Wednesday that indicted Attorney General Ken Paxton is innocent until proved guilty and is serving Texas well as the state’s top attorney while he awaits his day in court. Abbott compared Paxton’s legal woes … Read More
AUSTIN, TEXAS Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who faces felony charges of defrauding investors unrelated to his office, has the support of Gov. Greg Abbott and other state leaders and hasn’t been asked to resign, a Paxton spokesman said Tuesday.The … Read More
AUSTIN – After just more than a month on the job, embattled Attorney General Ken Paxton’s chief of staff, Hiram Sasser is leaving the agency, according to an internal email sent Tuesday. The email from First Assistant Attorney General Jeff … Read More
Chief Deputy Executive Commissioner Charles Smith announced Heather Griffith Peterson and Kara Crawford are joining the Health and Human Services’ executive leadership team. “We are putting together a strong leadership team that will continue to move the Texas Health and … Read More
PULASKI COUNTY (KATV) — A 36-year-old Heber Springs woman was given three years of probation and order to pay a fine and restitution for Medicaid fraud. Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced Thursday that Jessica Eddy pleaded guilty to Medicaid … Read More
AUSTIN — A third top official in Ken Paxton’s office was kept on the payroll after she left the agency — this time for nearly six months — state records show, raising more questions about the attorney general’s use of a … Read More
In a new, four-minute video released by his campaign the day before he’s set to appear in court in Dallas, embattled Attorney General Ken Paxton defends himself against “crimes I didn’t commit” and says he’s been wrongly accused by people … Read More
Attorney General Ken Paxton recently accepted the resignation of two of his senior employees.But while both workers quit the agency, their paychecks continued. Before leaving, they had signed letters of resignation that stipulated that they’d be considered on paid “administrative … Read More
Medicaid managers have done little to stem rampant fraud in the massive government health care program for the poor, which totaled more than $29 billion last year, according to a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report to Congress. As Medicaid … Read More
AUSTIN – Ken Paxton told federal investigators that a tech CEO gave him $100,000 worth of stock five years ago, but he never disclosed the shares as either a gift or income, an issue ethics experts agreed could spell more trouble for the attorney general … Read More
AUSTIN — A Texas state official put on paid leave amid last year’s contracting scandal has been reinstated after 15 months in which she received nearly $150,000 in salary without having to work. The official, Frianita Wilson, a longtime procurement … Read More
Since he took office in 2015, nearly half of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s total security costs have gone to dozens of trips to Collin County, where he has a home and businesses, according to records obtained by the Texas Tribune. Paxton has used taxpayer-funded security … Read More
Jacksonville, FL — He has “severe mental deficits” and a “lack of memory” which makes him unable to stand trial.That’s why the lawyers for a former Southside pediatric dentist accused of hurting patients want him ruled incompetent by a judge.WOKV … Read More
Charles Smith, a longtime ally of Gov. Greg Abbott, will be the next executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the governor announced Tuesday. Smith, the chief deputy executive commissioner at the massive agency, will start his … Read More
The Obama administration has agreed to temporarily keep some federal Medicaid money flowing into Texas to help hospitals treat uninsured patients, a relief to health care providers that feared losing the funds over state leaders’ refusal to provide health insurance … Read More
A former aide to Texas Attorney GeneralKen Paxton said Friday that he asked for her resignation and that she did not ask for nor negotiate a now-controversial departure package that left the state paying her thousands of dollars in salary and benefits. … Read More
For three months, Courissa Hall essentially lived in a Houston rehabilitation hospital providing care for her 4-year-old daughter, who suffered brain damage during a routine appointment at a local dental clinic that specialized in treating Medicaid patients. She’s still processing … Read More
AUSTIN — Attorney General Ken Paxton’s scheduler is leaving the agency, the latest staffer to depart in a string of high-profile resignations. Katherine Lawhon’s last day in the office was nearly six weeks ago, according to her personnel file, released to The … Read More
Medicaid in Texas and the federal government that continues to expand it are just as voracious and as difficult to pay for as they have ever been.Medicaid expansion ran loose in Texas last week.Somebody had to say it. You certainly … Read More
An Avoca man faces 10 years in prison for allegedly sending fraudulent billing claims to Medicaid. Darren Washington, 52, worked as a service provider for Healthy Homes Family Services. From January 2015 to May 2015 while working for Healthy Homes, … Read More
CRITTENDEN COUNTY (KATV) — Two Crittenden County women have been arrested on charges of Medicaid fraud.Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced the arrests Wednesday by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.36-year-old Pamela Pollard, of Marion, and 38-year-old Lacasha Perry, … Read More
ROCKFORD (WIFR) – A Rockford woman pleads guilty to felony fraud after Illinois State Police say she was being paid by Medicaid for services she wasn’t actually providing. 59-year-old Lucinda Germann was arrested after an investigation revealed she was submitting … Read More
New details emerge in the Medicaid fraud case against an Amarillo Dentist. Michael Goodwin pleaded guilty in 2012 to one count of health care fraud, now he wants his plea vacated as well as the charges. Goodwin’s family says his attorney at … Read More
The office of Attorney General Ken Paxton is formally defending his decision to continue paying two high-level staffers after they resigned, saying Paxton “acted in a compassionate, legal, and ethical manner.” In an op-ed submitted Tuesday to a number of media … Read More
CLEVELAND, Ohio – A Cleveland dentist allegedly billed Medicaid for fillings on patients with dentures and other work not performed; now he’s charged with health care fraud, Ohio’s U.S. Attorney announced Monday.Robert Rouzaud, 59, allegedly billed for an excessive number … Read More
BATON ROUGE – Attorney General Jeff Landry announced five people were arrested on defrauding the Medicaid program following investigations by his Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU).“Fraudulent claims to the Medicaid program will be investigated, and the scammers will be arrested,” said … Read More
AUSTIN — Life outside the governor’s mansion has proven profitable for Rick Perry.The former Texas governor made more than $365,000 in total compensation in 2015 for serving on the corporate boards of two firms that are part of Republican mega … Read More
AUSTIN — Attorney General Ken Paxton is still paying a former top staffer more than a month after she left the agency, and aides refuse to answer questions about a special payment arrangement for her and Paxton’s former deputy amid … Read More
