Former director of Riverside Recovery. Director pleads guilty to falsifying Medicaid invoices

COLUMBUS — Former Riverside Recovery executive director Amy Smart has pleaded guilty to falsifying Medicaid invoices for counseling and case management services that were not provided.

Smart pleaded guilty Oct. 16, according to records in U.S. District Court for Southern Ohio.

The charges state that Smart knowingly falsified and submitted invoices to the Ohio Medicaid program for counseling and case management services that were not provided from July 2, 2018, to January 7, 2023, totaling $345,093.

Prior to Smart’s sentencing, a pre-sentence investigation report will be completed. Smart’s attorney, Michael Jason Hunter, has until Oct. 30 to object to the report and recommendation.

When Knox Pages asked for comment on the case, Hunter declined. Attempts to reach Flint Postle, executive director of Riverside Recovery, for comment were unsuccessful.

A sentencing date for Smart has not yet been set.

According to the Statement of Facts document, in 2018, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Fraud Control United (MCFU), received numerous complaints regarding improper billing associated with Riverside Recovery Services.

According to the statement of facts, the MCFU and Health and Human Services investigation found that Smart overbilled the Ohio Medicaid benefits program for alcohol and drug treatment services. .

Authorities say the investigation involved numerous interviews with patients and employees, as well as a review of patient files, billing records and emails, all of which demonstrated that Smart was involved in fraud. billing in Riverside.

Smart and Riverside Recovery misrepresented the type and duration of counseling services provided to patients, according to the statement of facts. Smart, herself a counselor, billed for case management sessions while she was on vacation, according to the statement of facts, also noting that many employees interviewed indicated that Smart asked them to “supplement” the services of advice and create fraudulent employees capable of identifying specific cases. of this fraudulent activity in the associated patient records.

Additionally, Smart directed staff to bill transportation services as case management services, which is prohibited, including requiring staff to use the word “assisted” instead of “transported” in records patients, according to the statement of facts.

Finally, employment documents showed that Smart and Riverside Recovery billed for purported counseling services even when patients were at work and not present at Riverside Recovery, according to the statement of facts.

According to the plea agreement, Smart is ordered to pay $345,093 in restitution to the Ohio Medicaid program. Additionally, both parties agreed to probation, the length of which will be determined by the court.

The judge may accept, reject, or postpone the plea agreement until he or she has reviewed the pre-sentence investigation report, in accordance with the plea agreement.