Spokane woman pleads guilty to Medicaid fraud

A Spokane woman pleaded guilty earlier this year to defrauding the state in one of four Medicaid scams prosecuted statewide that revealed the theft of $137,000. The Washington state attorney general’s office announced Friday it had successfully resolved the four cases, among them Chanell Flock’s taking of close to $30,000. As part of a plea deal, Flock admitted in April to making fraudulent claims on documents filed with the Department of Social and Health Services between January 2007 and September 2011. Flock will avoid jail time, but must end her contract with the state as a Medicaid provider, according to the terms of the plea deal. Flock was ordered to repay a little over $20,000, which she has already done, according to a news release. Investigators alleged Flock billed the state for care that didn’t occur. The mother of the Medicaid patient said Flock was contracted for 96 hours monthly with her son, but after a marriage began appearing as little as 12 hours a month and ceased visiting entirely in July 2009. She continued to bill the state for the entire time through October 2010, according to records. The mother told investigators she was “speechless” when confronted with Flock’s billing, according to court documents. Investigators also alleged Flock overbilled for care that was not provided to her adopted siblings. Time she said was spent caring for them she instead spent at another job, as a kitchen worker with the Central Valley School District, according to records. An attorney general’s office task force also investigated Peggy Ruth Kerr in Thurston County for stealing about $100,000; Tiamila Davis in Kitsap County, who took more than $12,000; and Eunmi Kim in Snohomish County, who will repay more than $6,000. The attorney general’s office asks anyone who suspects Medicaid fraud to contact the task force at (360) 586-8888.