Fake CPR Certs Fuel $416K Louisiana Medicaid Fraud

Carolyn Brown, a resident of Natchez, Mississippi, has been charged with Medicaid fraud in Louisiana. Investigators allege that she submitted fraudulent CPR certification records, which are a requirement for certain home and community-based services. These alleged falsifications are linked to over $416,000 in Medicaid payments to Positive Choices Counseling Service, LLC, a provider in Concordia Parish where Brown is identified as an owner.

Court documents indicate that Brown and her husband allegedly submitted disputed CPR certifications from the National CPR Foundation for the years 2022 and 2024. These certificates were reportedly intended to cover services through 2026, as CPR certifications are valid for two years. Brown reportedly told investigators that she and her husband took online CPR classes but did not complete payment for them.

An audit by Centene, a managed-care company, flagged the certificates. Further investigation using the National CPR Foundation's E-Verify tool revealed that the submitted 2022 and 2024 certificates lacked essential details like ID numbers and renewal dates, unlike valid certificates. Investigators established probable cause for charges including Medicaid fraud and filing false public records.

The total Medicaid payments scrutinized, totaling $416,039.56, were associated with services rendered while these fraudulent certifications were allegedly in place. The largest portion of these payments, $200,477.74, was recorded for the year 2024.

Brown's arrest was part of a significant statewide Medicaid fraud sweep announced by the Louisiana Attorney General's office, involving 21 arrests for allegations of false billing and abuse. The investigation and prosecution are being handled by the Louisiana Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.