South Strabane women accused in medical assistance fraud case
Two South Strabane Township women were arraigned Wednesday on charges filed by the state attorney general’s office accusing them of filing false time sheets with the Department of Human Services.
Sofia B. Wheeler, 56, and Antonina B. Hull, 58, both of 1540 N. Main St., were arraigned before District Judge Jay Weller on charges of submitting a false medical assistance claim, theft by deception and conspiracy.
Hull is accused of filing the false statements for services that were not provided to Wheeler under the Attendant Care Program between January 2014 and June 2015. The Bureau of Program Integrity received information from a service coordinator for the program who said he suspected Hull of billing for services not being provided to Wheeler, and Wheeler might have permitted the activity.
Investigators for the attorney general’s office obtained Hull’s time sheets and billing summary, as well as time sheets from her secondary employment, to determine if there was any overlap. It was determined by analysts for the AG’s office there was an overlap of 317.88 hours, amounting to fraudulent billing in the amount of $3,560.26.
Wheeler told an investigator that she has been struggling with kidney issues. Her son took her to Atlanta, Ga., where she would stay for a week at a time before returning to Washington for treatment. The arrangement lasted for two years. Wheeler reportedly told the investigator Hull completed the time sheets and that she and Hull approved and signed off on them. Hull told the investigator that she did not believe she overbilled.
The AG’s office said the analyst also determined that there was 193 hours when Hull’s time sheets overlapped with times when Wheeler was reportedly receiving dialysis in Atlanta. Investigators said fraudulent billing amounted to $2,161.60.
Hull reportedly offered to pay back the money, as did Wheeler, according to court documents.
The two were released on their own recognizance. They are scheduled for a Sept. 26 preliminary hearing before Weller.