PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — The state Attorney General’s Office has filed a civil lawsuit against a Parkersburg substance abuse treatment facility for allegedly filing fraudulent claims with Medicaid for services provided by a former worker who lied about his credentials.
Attorney General Patrick Morrisey explained the lawsuit against Clean & Clear Advantage during a Wednesday morning news conference at the Wood County Courthouse.
Morrisey said Clean & Clear Advantage should have done a better job checking the background of former employee Clifford Marlowe.
“This was an investigation that revealed that the company hired and assigned (Marlowe) to perform certain types of therapy services even though he lacked the licensing and qualifications to do so,” Morrisey said.
Morrisey said his office’s Medicaid Fraud Unit has sued Clean & Clear for $236,000, nearly three times more than the $79,000 collected from Medicaid.
“We believe (Marlowe) was not qualified to render these services and because the company didn’t return the money, we believe the company is civilly liable to the Medicaid program for damages,” Morrisey said.
Marlowe has been indicted by a Wood County grand jury on criminal charges and faces a January trial date. He’s charged with two felony counts of Medicaid fraud and fraudulent schemes.
There were 52 patients seen between May 2021 and January 2022. Morrisey said Clean & Clear should have done a better job determining Marlowe’s credentials.
“The allegations indicate that when a company knows or should have known that they’re billing the program improperly they have an obligation, not just simply to change their practices, but they have an obligation to pay that back,” he said.
Morrisey said the fraud unit is involved in similar investigations.
“I can’t articulate other targets but I can tell you what we’re dealing with now is not the only investigation we’re involved in,” he said.
Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure appeared with Morrisey at Wednesday’s news conference.
Story by Jeff Jenkins, MetroNews