Donaldsonville Health Care Agency Owner Arrested for Medicaid Fraud

The owner of a personal care services agency in Donaldsonville has been arrested and charged with defrauding the state’s Medicaid program, announced Attorney General Buddy Caldwell.

Officials with the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested 47-year-old Marilyn Buggage Warr of 260 Reynaud Drive in Donaldsonville last week.  Warr, owner and operator of Christian Foundation Inc. located at 2358 Highway 1 South, is accused of submitting Medicaid claims for more than $54,000 in services that her company did not provide.

“The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit aims to combat every aspect of Medicaid fraud and abuse,” said Attorney General Buddy Caldwell.  “We sincerely appreciate the level of cooperation we receive from the Department of Health and Hospitals, as both agencies seek to protect families and safeguard state Medicaid dollars.”

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) has sent a letter notifying Christian Foundation that their Medicaid Provider Agreements will be terminated due to the arrest of the agency's owner by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.  The agency will be allowed to remain open for 30 additional days in order to safely transfer their clients to a new Medicaid provider of the clients' choice.  

"There will be no leniency for anyone who steals from the pockets of taxpayers and denies health care to those who need it by defrauding the Medicaid program,” said DHH Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein. “DHH is doubling down our own efforts to fight fraud and abuse and will continue to work aggressively with the Attorney General to prosecute anyone who steals from the people of Louisiana.”

An extensive review of billing records, patient logs, and employee timesheets revealed that Warr allegedly billed more than $54,000 in fraudulent billings to the Medicaid program from 2006 through February 2010.

Medicaid is a health insurance program for low-income individuals jointly funded by the state and federal government.  The state Department of Health and Hospitals administers the Medicaid Program for Louisiana.

The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit needs the assistance of citizens in fighting against health care fraud.  If Medicaid Fraud is suspected, please contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at 888-799-6885.