On May 9, 2013, Michelle Maylene Cooper pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud (O.C.G.A. § 49-4-146.1(b)(1)) in DeKalb County Superior Court. Judge Gregory Adams sentenced Cooper to one year in prison, followed by nine years on probation, and ordered her to pay restitution to the Georgia Department of Community Health in the amount of $641,350.00.

Cooper owned Nurse Management Services, Inc., a company enrolled in the Community Care Services Program (CCSP). The CCSP program is intended to offer home nursing services to recipients who would otherwise require services in a nursing facility. The CCSP program requires that nursing services in the home be supervised by a Registered Nurse (RN).

Between October 1, 2009, and December 15, 2011, there were extended periods of time during which no RN was employed at Nurse Management Services. Cooper concealed the fact that she was not providing the required nursing care by signing the name of a RN known to her without the nurse’s permission on a number of documents required by the Department of Community Health.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Nancy Allstrom prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of Georgia. The case was investigated by Investigator Bill Bruce, Investigator Shakethia Morgan, Nurse Investigator Beth Teague, Criminal Analyst Tish Murray, and Chief Auditor Anita Reddick of the Georgia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, in cooperation with the Georgia Department of Community Health’s Office of Inspector General. Investigator Glenn Archie of the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office assisted in the investigation.