Attorney General (AG) Chris Carr announced his partnership with the Department of Justice to indict Elizabeth Sue Ivester, owner of Liberty Medical Inc., for defrauding Georgia’s medicaid program. The charges have been filed in the Middle District Court of Georgia as part of the Justice Department’s nationwide takedown of healthcare fraud.
In a press release from AG Carr’s office, it is detailed how Ivester was indicted on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud, Health Care Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft. These were all connected to the alleged scheme to defraud Medicaid of over $5.4 million for durable medical equipment.
The equipment was neither ordered nor supplied to Medicaid recipients. According to the indictment, Ivester also unlawfully used Medicaid recipients’ identification numbers to submit fraudulent claims.
Ivester went so far as to falsely report that one physician ordered 77,095 pieces of equipment that were never even delivered to Medicaid recipients.
The charges listed were coordinated between AG Carr and the Justice Department. So far, the Justice Department’s coordination with state AGs has resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants.
AG Pamela Bondi commented on the case, “This record-setting Health Care Fraud Takedown delivers justice to criminal actors who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens and steal from hardworking American taxpayers.”
Bondi continued, “Make no mistake – this administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities.”
“Prosecuting Medicaid fraud is a top priority for our office, and we’re proud to work with our federal partners in this effort,” said AG Carr. “Defrauding Medicaid is the same as stealing taxpayer dollars, and we will hold violators accountable.”
Carr also commented on X that he was proud to work with the Middle District Court of Georgia and the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services on this indictment.
