Fallston Woman Sentenced for Felony Medicaid Fraud

BALTIMORE, MD ( May 5, 2010) -Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that former mental health counselor Joanne Radulski, 56, of the 2100 block of Oaklyn Drive, Fallston, was sentenced in Baltimore City Circuit Court for felony Medicaid fraud for billing the Medicaid Program for psychotherapy services she was not licensed to perform. Circuit Court Judge Pamela J. White sentenced Radulski to two years incarceration, suspended, and four years supervised probation. As a special condition of probation, Radulski must serve six months home detention and pay restitution of $17,000.

The investigation revealed that from October 2006 through July 2007, Radulski worked as a mental health therapist at the North Baltimore Center. The North Baltimore Center is a private not-for-profit corporation which provides mental health care to residents of Baltimore City and the surrounding area. Regulations require that psychotherapy services be provided by licensed mental health professionals. Radulski, never licensed as a clinical professional counselor, submitted false credentials to obtain employment at the North Baltimore Center. The North Baltimore Center then billed the Medicaid program for services provided by Radulski.

The case was investigated by the Maryland Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in conjunction with the Maryland State Police. In making today’s announcement, Attorney General Gansler thanked Assistant Attorney General Catherine Schuster Pascale and investigator Kelly Parker for their work on this case.