On Thursday, August 29, 2013, Erika Robinson, of Lithonia, Ga., pled guilty in Cobb County Superior Court to one felony count of Medicaid Fraud (O.G.G.A. § 49-4-146.1(b)) for fraudulently billing Georgia Medicaid. Judge Robert D. Leonard sentenced Robinson under the First Offender Act to two years in prison, followed by eight years probation and restitution in the amount of $438,622.03.

Robinson was the owner and operator of Speech Therepeze, Inc., doing business as Progressive Therapy, in DeKalb County and at a branch operating out of Cobb County.

Between January 4, 2010, and January 23, 2012, Robinson was enrolled as a provider of services in the Georgia Medicaid Program’s Children’s Intervention Services. The program rules and regulations require that treating therapists must be licensed with the State of Georgia and that the provider can only bill for services rendered. Robinson pled guilty to employing unlicensed therapists to treat patients of Speech Therepeze. Robinson also admitted to fraudulently billing for providing services to patients on days that the patient was not treated. As a result of her fraudulent claims, Robinson received payments from Georgia Medicaid totaling $438,622.03 to which she was not entitled.

Assistant Attorney General Robin E. Daitch prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of Georgia. The investigation was conducted by Investigator Gretchen Culberson, Investigative Auditor Denise Colson, Nurse Investigator Darlene Herndon and Chief Analyst Carmen Staley of the Georgia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, with the assistance of Investigator Ike Brackins of the Department of Community Health’s Program Integrity Section.