A West Virginia woman has been sentenced for her role in a Medicaid fraud scheme involving a deceased beneficiary. (Thankfully, she was not responsible for the Medicaid beneficiary’s death, but she did try to take advantage of the situation.)
Skybluewater Keys, 44, of Buckhannon, admitted to unrightfully billing Medicaid for services she said she provided on two separate dates. (As you might guess, she did not provide those services.)
Keys attempted to bill Medicaid for caregiver services between March 20, 2020, the day after the beneficiary died, and April 12, 2020. (Keys clearly knew she had no time to waste when it came to carrying out her fraudulent scheme due to the individual’s death, but she must not have considered the consequences.)
This was not Keys’ first time being involved in a fraud scheme. In April 2020, she was arrested and charged for prescription fraud after trying to fill a prescription for someone who died in March. (Perhaps it was the same Medicaid beneficiary she tried to claim she provided care to. Sounds like she made a bad decision, twice.)
While under surveillance, law enforcement observed Keys picking up the medicine while driving a green van. Next came a traffic stop where Keys was taken into custody for possessing controlled narcotics prescribed to the deceased individual. (If only a prescription existed to cure impulsive thieves, although Keys might find that pill hard to swallow.)
Keys was charged for three counts of felony Medicaid fraud in April. Her three to 30 years prison sentence was suspended after full restitution of $1,973.40 was paid. Now, she is serving three years of supervised probation and must complete 240 hours of community service. (Well, at least she finally gets to provide service to the community. I’m sure her probation officer will make sure her time is accounted for.)
Today’s Fraud of the Day comes from an article, “Buckhannon woman gets probation and community service for Medicaid fraud,” published by 12WBOY on June 10, 2021.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has secured punishments for an Upshur County woman convicted of Medicaid fraud, for attempting to bill Medicaid for care of someone who already died.
Skybluewater Keys, 44 of Buckhannon pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud and agreed to pay full restitution.
