Brookhaven Woman Collected $305K In Fake Medicaid Claims: Carr

DECATUR, GA — A Brookhaven woman pled guilty to defrauding Medicaid for more than $305,000, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said Monday.

Prosecutors said Teresa Renee Owens, 60, is owner of RJ Shepherd II. The company is also known as Better Home Healthcare of Georgia and offers behavioral health therapy services to children and adults.

Owens, whose business was a Medicaid enrollee at the time, repeatedly sent false claims to the state health funding program, prosecutors said.

She told her staff members to produce patient records containing false information to support the fake claims and collected $305,685.75 via direct deposit into her personal bank account during the scheme, prosecutors said.

In DeKalb County Superior Court, prosecutors said Owens on March 31 pled guilty to Medicaid fraud, false writings and identity fraud. DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson sentenced her to 10 years, with one year to be served in prison and the balance on probation, prosecutors said.

Nearly a month later, Johnson ordered Owens to the amount taken to Medicaid, prosecutors said.

“Medicaid fraud isn’t a victimless crime – it’s theft of taxpayer dollars and it undermines a system meant to care for our most vulnerable Georgians,” Carr said in a news release. “As this case shows, we will not hesitate to hold accountable those who use their positions to exploit our Medicaid program. Rest assured, if you’re a provider attempting to game the system, you will be identified, prosecuted and ordered to pay back every dollar you stole.”