Robert W. DeHaven, an individual and family mental health and substance abuse counselor in Jeff Davis County and owner of DeHaven Healthcare, Inc., pled to guilty to one count of Medicaid Fraud (O.C.G.A. § 49-4-146.1(b)) on August 26, 2011, in Jeff Davis County Superior Court. Between October 2006 and September 2009, DeHaven collected Medicaid reimbursements for counseling services which he did not perform.

The charges stem from an investigation conducted after the mother of a recipient claimed that her child had not received counseling services from DeHaven. The investigation revealed that DeHaven had been incarcerated for approximately three months and had been hospitalized for approximately one week during the time period in which he billed Medicaid.

Judge E. M. Wilkes, III, sentenced DeHaven to 10 years, two to serve. Additionally, he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $270,295.00.

Charges are still pending against co-defendant Stephanie Gill. Gill, who is not a licensed counselor, allegedly provided counseling services that she was not authorized to provide. Additionally, she is charged with conspiring with DeHaven to falsely bill Medicaid for services that were not rendered.

Senior Assistant Attorney General D. Williams-McNeely prosecuted DeHaven on behalf of the State of Georgia. The case was investigated by Fraud Investigator Tiffany Reed and Investigative Auditor Kim Kolesnik of the Georgia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Agent Merlin Ector of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.