Press Releases
04/27/2023
Hartford Woman Sentenced for Medicaid Fraud
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Rocky Hill, CT) - A behavioral health clinician and owner of Collaborative Counseling, LLC pleaded guilty today to defrauding Medicaid by billing the government insurance program for thousands of dollars she was not entitled to.
Alicia M. Thompkins, 42, of Hartford, pleaded guilty in Hartford Superior Court to one count of Health Insurance Fraud, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53-442. In addition, the defendant was ordered to pay $140,000 in restitution.
By pleading guilty to a program-related felony, the defendant also is subject to mandatory exclusion as a health care provider to certain federally funded health programs pursuant to federal and state laws and regulations. Medicaid is a government program that provides health coverage to low-income and disabled individuals, and is financed both by the federal and state governments and administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services.
An investigation by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney determined that between 2018 and 2020, behavioral health service claims submitted by Thompkins were provided by unlicensed people. Thompkins was billing as if she provided licensed qualified services herself. Thompkins was utilizing one of her clients, and an unlicensed person, to perform behavioral health services to other clients. Thompkins also billed for services while clients were inpatient and not receiving counseling, and services that were not performed.
The Honorable David P. Gold sentenced Thompkins to a 3-year suspended jail sentence and 5 years of conditional discharge. Along with the condition of restitution in the amount of $140,000, Thompkins was ordered not to act as a provider in the Medicaid Program.
The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit was assisted by the Connecticut Department of Social Services Office of Quality Assurance and the New Britain Police Department.
Anyone with knowledge of suspected fraud and abuse in the public healthcare system is asked to contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office at (860) 258-5986.