Springfield insurance agent pleads guilty to Medicaid fraud

A Springfield insurance broker has admitted guilt in 12 felony counts of Medicaid fraud related to the misappropriation of more than $700,000.

Kevin Wayne Louderback pleaded guilty Thursday to five counts of Medicaid fraud, one count of offering a kickback to receive a Medicaid payment, four counts of insurance fraud and two counts of forgery.

According to the office of Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, Louderback sent applications with false information to the Missouri Health Insurance Premium Payment program, which pays private health insurance premiums for certain individuals with high medical costs. Louderback stated that the monthly insurance premium rates were higher than they actually were, pocketing the difference.

Koster's office also says Louderback offered kickbacks to get people to enroll in an insurance program, misstated company insurance rates, and forged documents to spell out the false rates.

"This kind of fraudulent conduct steals health-care resources that would otherwise be directed to truly needy Missourians," Koster said in a news release. "We will continue to dedicate our resources to root out health-care fraud in our state."

Louderback is deemed a prior and persistent offender, having pleaded guilty to passing a bad check in Laclede County in 2000 and to stealing in 2004 in Greene County. As a repeat offender, Louderback could receive an extended prison term when he is sentenced Feb. 26.

Koster's office, which worked with the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney's Office on the case, encourages those suspecting Medicaid fraud to call the Medicaid fraud hotline at (800) 286-3932.