Shawn R. Blankenship, a nurse practitioner from Winfield, has entered a guilty plea to four counts of health care fraud. This development was announced by Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston following an extensive investigation into fraudulent medical billing practices.
Blankenship, who owns Holistic Inc., a clinic in St. Albans, admitted to submitting false claims to Medicaid and its Managed Care Organizations for services that were not rendered or medically necessary. The fraudulent activities involved services such as smoking cessation counseling, office visits, and weight loss counseling.
According to court records, Blankenship filed four false claims on October 29, 2020. These included three claims for smoking cessation services and one for an outpatient visit. However, during this period, he and other licensed practitioners from Holistic were in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
The financial impact of these fraudulent actions is estimated at $600,000 in losses. Blankenship's sentencing is scheduled for July 21, 2025. He faces up to 40 years in prison along with supervised release and fines. Restitution will be determined by the court.
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and others.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing while Trial Attorney Jody King and Assistant United States Attorney Owen Reynolds are handling prosecution duties.
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