Related Federal Cases
Tina Kuehl, Owner of Better Way Home Care, Pleads Guilty to Bank and Healthcare Fraud Charges
In a shocking turn of events, Tina Kuehl, the owner of Better Way Home Care, pleaded guilty to bank and healthcare fraud charges in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
According to court documents, Kuehl and her company, Better Way Home Care, submitted hundreds of reimbursement claims to Medicare for services that were not provided. Kuehl, who has no medical or healthcare education, training, or experience, directed her staff to make false statements on the Outcome and Assessment Information Set form (OASIS) and reimbursement claim forms to increase the reimbursement that Better Way would receive.
Kuehl’s scheme involved making false statements on the OASIS forms and reimbursement claim forms, including increasing the number of therapy visits, falsifying diagnosis codes, and exaggerating patients’ conditions and the reasons they were receiving home health care services from Better Way. In some instances, patients had received no therapy at all.
In addition to the healthcare fraud charges, Kuehl also pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. The bank fraud charges stem from Kuehl’s scheme to defraud Maries Bank by submitting fraudulent checks as proof that she had made loan payments on a $305,000 property loan. Kuehl’s mother had obtained the loan in December 2010, and when payments were not made, Maries Bank foreclosed on the property in July 2013. Kuehl continued to submit fraudulent checks and made false claims to attorneys representing her after the foreclosure.
Kuehl appeared before United States District Judge Henry Autrey on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to one felony count of bank fraud, one felony count of healthcare fraud, two counts of making false statements relating to healthcare, and one count of making false statements to federal agents.
Kuehl faces significant penalties for her crimes, including prison time, fines, and restitution. The exact sentence has not been determined yet.
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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