6 Years In Prison For Co. Owner, Biller In $600K Medicaid Fraud Case

CHICAGO — Two Olympia Fields women will do prison time after authorities say they bilked the state out of nearly $700,000 in Medicaid funds.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced on Thursday that a Cook County judge had sentenced both the owner of a medical equipment company and the company’s biller each to six years in prison for defrauding the state out of $685,000 in Medicaid funds.

Doreatha Thomas, 61, and Siobahan Booker, 39, were sentenced by Cook County Circuit Court Judge Mariano R. Reyna after they were previously found guilty in June 2023 of two counts of theft and one count of vendor fraud. Following the conviction, both Thomas and Booker’s bonds were revoked, and they remain in custody at the Cook County Jail.

"Millions of Illinois seniors, children and families rely on the Medicaid program for their health care," Raoul said in a release. "This sentencing sends a message that we will hold individuals who defraud this vitally important program accountable.

"I will not tolerate abuse of Medicaid for personal financial benefit, and my office will continue to work with our state government partners to identify fraud."

Thomas owned Integrity Medical & Physician Supplies, a medical equipment supply company in Olympia Fields that sold hospital beds, wheelchairs, canes and urinary incontinence supplies as well as medical supplies for diabetes patients. Raoul alleged that Thomas and Booker submitted fraudulent claims to Illinois’ Medicaid program for diabetic supplies that were not provided. In several instances, according to Raoul’s office, Integrity Medical & Physician Supplies billed the Medicaid program for more boxes of continuous glucose monitor sensors than patients were actually prescribed. In total, Thomas and Booker defrauded Illinois’ Medicaid program out of nearly $685,000 from June 2017 through July 2019, Raoul said.

The Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Control Bureau conducted the investigation into Integrity Medical & Physician Supplies and alleged fraudulent billing practices by Thomas and Booker following a referral from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Office of the Inspector General and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Managed Care Organization.

"Medicaid funding is intended to help those in need and ISP will continue to work with Attorney General Raoul’s Office to pursue those who commit fraud and steal tax-payer dollars for personal gain," said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly.

Beginning in federal fiscal year 2024, the newly-established Medicaid Fraud Control Unit within the Illinois Attorney General’s office receives 75 percent of its funding, or more than $8.9 million, through a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.