Florida woman charged with Medicaid provider fraud

FLORIDA— A Florida self-employed care provider has been charged with Medicaid provider fraud, Attorney General Ashley Moody has announced.

Kimberly Greene Byrd of Duval County is accused of submitting more than $11,000 worth of fraudulent claims to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, including billing for hours not worked, Moody said in her statement.

The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, with the assistance of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, arrested the self-employed care provider for one count of Medicaid provider fraud, according to the announcement.

“This defendant, over the course of eight months, submitted false billing claims to the Medicaid program, causing a loss of thousands of taxpayer dollars,” said Moody.

“My Medicaid Fraud Control Unit will now ensure she faces the consequences of her crimes.”

According to the investigation, Byrd provided personal support services to Medicaid recipients who needed assistance with the activities of daily living. Medicaid required Byrd to submit daily service logs to the program via the APD.

Over the course of several months, Byrd reportedly submitted billing claims for hours not worked, along with service logs that did not match the hours billed or absent entirely, causing a loss to the Medicaid program of more than $11,000, Moody’s office said.

Byrd faces one count of Medicaid provider fraud, a second-degree felony. The Attorney General’s MFCU will prosecute the case through an agreement with the State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit.