AG: Niles husband, wife plead guilty to Medicaid fraud
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Niles couple has pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud, the attorney general’s office announced.
Gregory and Jacquelyn Barney on Thursday pleaded guilty to two counts each of Medicaid fraud — false claim, according to a release from the Michigan Department of Attorney General. Each charge is a four-year felony. The department says the couple agreed to pay more than $48,000 in restitution.
AG: Niles couple charged with Medicaid fraud
Licensed counselor Gregory Barney owns Highland Counseling Center in Niles, while Jacquelyn Barney is the business’ office manager, administrator and biller, according to the release.
The AG’s office says Jacquelyn Barney also worked as a biller for a separate local medical office, where she obtained patient information and then billed Medicaid for counseling sessions with Highland Counseling Center and Gregory Barney. The office says these sessions did not happen: Clients told investigators they did not know Gregory Barney, according to the release.
“My office takes instances of Medicaid fraud very seriously,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. “Charging a practitioner underscores our commitment to protecting the integrity of the Medicaid program and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used appropriately.”
The Barneys were arrested and charged in 2021.
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