Milwaukee Woman Accused Of $2.3M In Prenatal Service Healthcare Fraud

MILWAUKEE, WI — A Milwaukee woman is facing healthcare fraud charges after federal prosecutors said she funneled $2.3 million by lying about prenatal care coordination services for at-risk and low-income pregnant women and new mothers.

A federal grand jury indicted 30-year-old Markita Barnes on Wednesday on charges of healthcare fraud, money laundering, false statements and more according to a news release from United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Gregory J. Haanstad. Prosecutors accused Barnes of lying about providing certain services between October 2020 through November 2021.

The indictment said Barnes operated "Here For You," a prenatal care service that would get Medicaid reimbursements for services intended to combat a historically high rate of infant mortality in certain Wisconsin populations, according to the news release.

"Specifically, PNCC services are supposed to ensure that women at high risk are identified as early as possible in their pregnancies, receive psychosocial support, prenatal care services, and health and nutrition education, and are referred to available community services that they need to help them achieve positive birth and parenting outcomes," read Haanstad's news release.

But prosecutors said Barnes gave "kickbacks" to make women sign up for the prenatal care coordination services, and then submitted millions of dollars worth of claims for services she never actually gave to those women.

The charges against Barnes come after an investigation by The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel revealed the potential for fraud in the industry.

Barnes could face a variety of sentences if she is convicted, including 20 years for each count of healthcare fraud, authorities said.

“One of the primary reasons the Department of Justice focuses on prosecuting health care fraud is to ensure public funds are used to help the people they are designed to help, and not to unfairly enrich others at the expense of the public and those who desperately need these services,” said U.S. Attorney Haanstad in his news release. “We are committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to hold individuals who seek to take advantage of these programs for their own benefit fully accountable for their actions.”