Medicaid fraud allegations have surfaced around applied behavioral analysis therapy services for children with autism, causing alarm among families. Christina Coleman reports on the increasing fraudulent billing practices. Lindsey Chaney, a mother, and Kelsey Bennett from the Autism Families Alliance, join the conversation highlighting the impact of these fraudulent activities.
In Texas, the owner of a mental health clinic was convicted by a federal jury for orchestrating a $26 million scheme that defrauded the military’s health care program. The scheme included luxury purchases, such as a gold-plated Tesla Cybertruck valued at over $100,000. Kevin D. Curry, 64, from Frisco, was found guilty on multiple counts of health care fraud, offering illegal health care kickbacks, and engaging in monetary transactions involving criminally derived property. This was confirmed by the Justice Department.
Federal prosecutors stated Curry exploited TRICARE, the health care program for active-duty servicemembers, retirees, and their families. He was accused of billing for medically unnecessary transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy, which was often not provided.
The FBI’s ‘Most Wanted Fraudsters’ list recently featured Ohio defendants charged in another Medicaid scheme worth $30 million involving children. Curry allegedly owned and operated mental health clinics in Plano and Fort Worth, Texas, as well as Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He reportedly paid over $5.5 million in kickbacks to persuade servicemembers and their families to consent to TMS therapy they did not qualify for, nor received.
Evidence in court revealed Curry falsely presented himself as a doctor, misused doctors’ credentials without consent, and directed staff to fabricate medical records to support fraudulent claims.
Authorities claimed his clinics submitted over $26 million in false or kickback-tainted claims to TRICARE, leading to payments totaling approximately $17 million.
Prosecutors revealed Curry laundered proceeds through luxury expenses, including hotel stays, a casino-themed party, and the gold-plated Tesla Cybertruck.
“This defendant exploited a crucial health care program for servicemembers and their families, redirecting taxpayer money to fund personal luxuries from hotel stays to a lavish party and a gold-plated Tesla Cybertruck,” noted Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald in a statement.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould accused Curry of “shamelessly preying on the trust of servicemembers and their families,” fabricating medical records, misusing doctors’ identities, and submitting fraudulent claims for financial gain.
Curry’s sentencing is pending, with a potential maximum penalty of 10 years for each of the nine counts. A federal district court judge will decide his sentence based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.