A woman who operates a mental health services business in Colorado Springs allegedly stole $240,000 from Medicaid through fraudulent billings, according to the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.
Martha Sutherland, of Front Range Mental Health and Summit Assessments, submitted Medicaid claims and was paid for psychological testing services that never happened, according to an AG’s office news release.
Sutherland is charged with theft and cybercrime, both felonies, the release said.
“Medicaid provides essential health care services for many of our state’s most vulnerable residents,” said Phil Weiser, Colorado’s AG, in the release. “We will hold accountable those who would take advantage of this system for their own gain and, in turn, take resources away from those in need.”
Between August of 2017 and February of 2021, Sutherland “routinely filed claims and received Medicaid reimbursement for pre-bariatric surgery mental health assessments that were not provided,” according to the release. She allegedly billed for the same service multiple times totaling $240,000.
The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the attorney general’s office is investigating the ongoing case.
