Heart Patient Charged With Theft For Giving False Information

A heart patient who ran up a $13,800 bill at Deaconess Medical Center has been charged with first-degree theft after using false insurance information, police said.

Jim Guy Nelson, 59, told hospital workers he was self-insured and would pay up after his Dec. 29 release from the hospital, said Spokane Police Detective Cheryl Graves.

Acting on a tip, police learned Nelson was lying about his insurance as well as his name, Graves said.

“He may have done this in at least two other hospitals - possibly Las Vegas and Salem, Ore.,” Graves said.

Nelson, who remained in the Spokane County Jail on Tuesday, also was charged with forgery for signing a false name to hospital documents. , DataTimes