Shreveport counseling service to pay millions in Medicaid fraud case

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – A counseling service in Shreveport has agreed to pay millions to settle a Medicaid fraud lawsuit.

Community Health Care Solutions, LLC along with the estate of its deceased owner and operator, Yolanda Burnom, will pay $4.6 million.

According to the office of United States Attorney Alexander Van Hook, Community Health will pay the amount to resolve allegations that they submitted claims to Medicaid for reimbursement for services that were not actually provided. An investigation revealed that Community Health allegedly created a scheme to defraud the Medicaid program by offering financial incentives to Medicaid recipients in exchange for their patient information. Burnom and her employees would then use the information to bill Medicaid for crisis intervention services that did not occur. In many cases, counselors working for Community Health never met the patients or provided any services at all.

Burnom was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2022, but passed away unexpectedly four months later. As a result, civil litigation became the only way for the U.S. to recover the money.

“This type of fraud will not be tolerated, and we will continue to work with our federal and state partners to root out corruption and recover money for the taxpayers,” stated Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “Providers who take advantage of the Medicaid program deprive other citizens of needed medical services.” Louisiana Attorney General thanked her office and federal partners for their hard work and said people who commit Medicaid fraud will be caught, prosecuted, and demanded to pay restitution.

Hook’s office did note that the claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.