Counselor sentenced for Medicaid fraud

A licensed professional counselor from Greene County has received a sentence for Medicaid fraud.

Joshua Johnmeyer was sentenced to five years of probation, seven days of incarceration and a $3,654 order of restitution, according to a Nov. 4 news release from Attorney General Chris Koster's office.

Johnmeyer pleaded guilty Aug. 19 to six felony counts comprising four counts of Medicaid fraud, one count of obstruction of a Medicaid fraud investigation and one count of stealing by deceit. In his plea, Johnmeyer admitted to submitting false reimbursement claims to Medicaid for counseling services he did not actually perform. He also provided false patient records with the purpose of defrauding the state and MO HealthNet, a division of the Missouri Department of Social Services.

Johnmeyer, a Springfield-based counselor, was accused of filing false claims with the state for more than $3,600 between January and September 2009, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

“One of my top priorities as attorney general is prosecuting those who cheat Missouri's Medicaid system,” Koster said in the release. “This kind of illegal conduct denies medical resources that would otherwise be directed to needy Missourians.”

Koster's Medicaid Fraud Control unit worked in conjunction with Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson to investigate allegations and prosecute the case.[[In-content Ad]]