Woman pleads guilty in $16M Medicare fraud

DETROIT (AP) -- The U.S. Justice Department says a Detroit-area woman has pleaded guilty to conspiracy on accusations of trying to steal $15.9 million from the Medicare program for bogus mental health care. The government said Wednesday that 63-year-old Louisa Thompson made the plea Wednesday. She faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine at her sentencing Oct. 18 before Detroit U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Edmunds. The Justice Department says Thompson began making fraudulent Medicare billings in 2006 through TGW Medical Inc. and Caldwell Thompson Manor Inc. The government says she billed for psychotherapy that was either not performed or given by unqualified providers. The government says Medicare paid about $4.9 million on the claims. Published: Fri, Jun 22, 2012