From staff reports OKLAHOMA CITY– An Owasso woman, Melissa Fike, 52, has admitted committing health care fraud.
According to state federal investigators and prosecutors, Fike contracted as a licensed behavioral health practitioner for two Oklahoma counseling service providers located in Coweta and Tulsa. As a result, she was eligible for reimbursement from Medicaid for providing counseling services to Medicaid beneficiaries and would receive a percentage of the reimbursement for each claim.
Fike admitted that between October 2018 and September 2020, she submitted to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority numerous fraudulent LPXLP claims for Medicaid reimbursement, resulting in approximately $171,000 worth of payments from the Medicaid program.
She pleaded guilty in the Western District federal court here and acknowledged submitting Medicaid claims for services she never actually rendered.
At sentencing, Fike faces up to 10 years in federal prison and fines totaling up to $250,000 for each count.
“Protecting the integrity of Medicaid is of upmost importance because many of Oklahoma’s most vulnerable citizens depend on these services to be available when they need it,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Troester.
The case was investigated by the office of Oklahoma Attorney General.