Attorney General Tim Griffin announced on Apr. 9 that his office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has made two arrests and secured one conviction related to Medicaid fraud in Arkansas.
The announcement highlights the ongoing efforts of the Attorney General’s office to address misuse of public resources intended for vulnerable Arkansans. The unit investigates allegations of fraud, abuse, and exploitation within the state’s Medicaid program.
According to Griffin, Victoria Taylor of North Little Rock was arrested on March 27 for allegedly billing $46,977.05 to Medicaid for care services she claimed to provide her spouse, which is not permitted under program rules. Additionally, some services were not performed or overlapped with her other employment records. On April 1, Dr. Roger D. Morgan of Lakeland, Tennessee was arrested after allegedly billing $9,150 for psychotherapy sessions he claimed to have provided while traveling and not present with patients. Kelly Baxter of Gurdon pleaded guilty on April 6 to exploiting a vulnerable person by using a client’s debit card for unauthorized purchases; she received five years’ probation and was ordered to pay restitution.
“When individuals commit Medicaid fraud, they take advantage of a system designed to serve vulnerable Arkansans. That kind of conduct will be investigated and prosecuted,” Griffin said in his statement announcing the cases.
The Arkansas Attorney General’s office engages in initiatives addressing public integrity and community relations across the state according to the official website. It offers consumer protection services, handles civil and criminal matters, supports public safety initiatives according to the official website, serves all residents with legal protections according to the official website, provides resources for reporting fraud as well as legal opinions and education programs according to the official website, and operates within Arkansas’ legal and public safety sector at a state level according to the official website.
Griffin also acknowledged members of his team who worked on these cases: Special Agents Laura Glover and Brandon Muldrow; Assistant Attorneys General Gabrielle Davis-Jones and David Jones; as well as Sixth Judicial District Prosecutor Will Jones.
The Arkansas MFCU receives most funding from federal sources through grants from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services along with contributions from state revenue funds.
Looking ahead, officials say they will continue investigating reports involving misuse or abuse within government programs designed for those most in need.
