Deborah Branch, Healthcare Conspiracy, Virginia 2017

Bristol woman pleads guilty in healthcare conspiracy case.

A Bristol woman, Deborah Branch, 65, of Bristol, Va., has pleaded guilty to charges related to a healthcare conspiracy case in Virginia. According to court documents, Branch was hired by Bryan Harr Sr. and his wife, Melissa Harr, to work with one of their children who suffers from intellectual and physical disabilities. The services were paid for by Virginia Medicaid’s Intellectual Disability waiver program.

Branch submitted time sheets claiming she was providing services for the Harr’s disabled son, when in fact she was not. In exchange for her help in being paid for work she did not do, Branch paid the Harrs approximately $200 every two weeks. The investigation found that Virginia Medicaid paid out $350,641.02 to contractors based on these time sheets, of which $207,854.43 was paid to Branch.

Branch’s guilty plea comes after her husband and wife, Bryan Harr Sr. and Melissa Harr, previously pleaded guilty to related charges. The Harrs hired Branch to submit false time sheets to Virginia Medicaid, which resulted in the payment of $207,854.43 to Branch. The Harrs disabled son did not receive the services he needed, and the scheme resulted in significant financial losses for Virginia Medicaid.

The investigation into the case was conducted by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the Bristol Virginia Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney Janine M. Myatt, a Virginia Assistant Attorney General, is prosecuting the case for the U.S.

Branch will be sentenced on July 13, 2017 at 10 a.m. The guilty plea is a significant development in the case, and it is hoped that it will bring some justice to the victims of this healthcare conspiracy.

The case is a reminder of the importance of protecting the integrity of healthcare programs, particularly those that serve vulnerable populations. The investigation and prosecution of healthcare fraud cases like this one help to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used effectively and efficiently to provide critical services to those who need them most.

Branch’s guilty plea is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the investigators and prosecutors who worked on the case. It is a significant victory for the people of Virginia and for the integrity of the healthcare system.

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