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Last updated on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
(BROWNSTOWN) - Criminal charges of neglect, Medicaid fraud and forgery have been filed against a licensed practical nurse accused of failing to provide adequate care to a disabled child in her care and then submitting false records afterward.
Jackson County Prosecutor Rick Poynter prosecutor charged Kasey D. Scott with forgery, a Class C felony; four counts of neglect of a dependent, a Class D felony; and two counts of Medicaid fraud, a Class D felony.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed in court with the criminal charges, Scott, 25, of Seymour, a licensed practical nurse (LPN) was employed by a home respite-care agency and hired by a Jackson County family to care for their severely disabled 7- year- old son at home during daytime shifts while the parents were at work.
The affidavit also states that the care plan Scott was supposed to follow included providing physical therapy, exercise and interaction, and monitoring of the child's vital signs when he experienced seizures.
Because of concerns about the level of care Scott provided, the mother set up a hidden camera to secretly record video.
The video allegedly shows that on June 5 and June 6, 2011, Scott provided only a minimal level of care to the boy - feeding, diapering and administering medication.
Otherwise, she left the blind, disabled child lying on a couch for hours with no human interaction while she read or watched TV, the affidavit says.
Additionally, Scott allegedly submitted nurse's notes and paperwork claiming she had completed care and therapy tasks the video showed she had not.
Because of her false records, her employer, Loving Care Agency of Indianapolis, unknowingly submitted false claims to Medicaid for reimbursement that the program paid, the affidavit says.
When the mother reported Scott's lack of care, the home respite-care agency terminated Scott's employment.
In its role assisting law enforcement agencies with complaints of patient abuse and neglect, the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) investigated the case for the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office.
"The state's charges allege this defendant failed to follow the standard practices of nursing care and showed disregard for the disabled child's health and safety, and as a result a fraudulent Medicaid claim was submitted and reimbursed by taxpayers," Attorney General Greg Zoeller said.
Jackson Circuit Court issued a warrant for Scott's arrest. She was released on $ 10,000 bond and appeared in court Friday. A conviction for a Class C felony forgery would carry a potential sentence of up to eight years' imprisonment. A conviction on any of the six Class D felony charges would carry a potential sentence of up to three years.
Separately, the Attorney General's Office has filed an administrative licensing complaint against Scott's LPN license with the Indiana State Board of Nursing.
The MFCU investigates allegations of patient abuse and neglect by Medicaid reimbursed caregivers. Any member of the public can report suspected Medicaid fraud or patient abuse or neglect by calling MFCU at (800) 382-1039.
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