PSYCHIATRIST PLEADS GUILTY TO DEFRAUDING MEDICAID

Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that Dr. Oparaugo Ihentuge Udebiuwa has pleaded guilty to defrauding the Medicaid program by billing Medicaid for services that were never provided. Udebiuwa, 46, of the 400 block of West Central Avenue in Davidsonville, Maryland is a psychiatrist who was enrolled in the Medicaid Program as a Medicaid Provider.

Udebiuwa’s practice was located on Park Heights Avenue in Baltimore City. He pleaded guilty to 5 counts of misdemeanor Medicaid Fraud for defrauding the Medicaid program of $32,000 during a one year period. Dr. Udebiuwa admitted to fraudulently billing Medicaid by billing for services that he did not provide, by billing Medicaid for longer visits than he had actually provided, by billing Medicaid for medication management when patients were not on medication, and by billing Medicaid for family therapy when he did not provide family therapy. Medicaid is a joint state and federal-funded program that provides health services to the indigent.

The case was referred to Attorney General Curran’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit from the Mental Hygiene Administration which administers mental health services for the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Misdemeanor Medicaid Fraud is punishable by up to three years in jail and a $50,000 fine.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lynn K. Stewart set sentencing for August 8, 2006.