Hayden counselor sentenced for Medicaid provider fraud

BOISE - A Hayden psychosocial rehabilitation worker was sentenced Friday for Medicaid provider fraud, Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said.

First District Judge John P. Luster sentenced Lindsay A. Nelson, 26, to 30 days in jail, 100 hours of community service or 20 shifts on the sheriff's labor detail crew. The court entered a withheld judgment and placed Nelson on probation for two years.

Nelson pleaded guilty on July 29 to one count of provider fraud. The state dismissed the remaining charges, pursuant to a settlement agreement.

Around March 1, 2009, Nelson billed Idaho Medicaid for individual counseling services for two boys. An investigation by the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit found that the service provided was taking a group, including the two boys, to the Kottonmouth Kings rap concert in Spokane.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit subsequently filed a criminal complaint against Nelson.

Idaho Medicaid is a tax supported program that provides health care services to more than 200,000 Idaho citizens who are poor, elderly or disabled.

Medicaid Provider fraud is a felony and carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit prosecuted the case at the request of Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney Barry McHugh.