On Thursday, August 30, 2012, a Henry County Grand Jury charged Madeline Laruy with one felony count of Medicaid Fraud (O.C.G.A. § 49-4-146.1(b)) and one felony count of False Statements and Writings (O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20) for stealing over $60,000.00 from Georgia Medicaid and presenting fraudulent documents stating that she is a Registered Nurse (R.N.). Laruy is the owner and administrator of The Caring Place, Inc., doing business as Walnut Creek Manor in McDonough, Ga.

Between May 1, 2009, and April 23, 2012, Laruy was enrolled as a provider of services in the Georgia Medicaid program’s Alternative Living Services provider program. The program rules and regulations require that patients receive a supervisory visit at least once a month from an R.N. currently licensed by the State of Georgia. The charges allege that although Laruy is neither an R.N., nor licensed by the State of Georgia, she submitted fraudulent claims to Georgia Medicaid under the false pretense that she had fulfilled the R.N. visit requirement necessary to receive reimbursement. As a result of her fraudulent claims, Laruy received payments from Georgia Medicaid totaling $61,346.07 to which she was not entitled.

Additionally, Laruy is accused of presenting a fraudulent R.N. license card to auditors from the Georgia Department of Community Health.

Assistant Attorney General Stephen Cusick presented the case to the Henry County Grand Jury in Henry County Superior Court. The case was investigated by Nurse Investigator Donna Wills and Investigator Matthew Rouse of the Georgia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Members of the public should keep in mind that indictments contain only allegations against the individual(s) against whom the indictment is sought. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and it will be the government’s burden at trial to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the allegations contained in the indictment.