​

Attorney General McCuskey: Nurse practitioner pleads guilty to health care fraud 

CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey on Thursday said a licensed nurse practitioner pleaded guilty to four counts of health care fraud following a multiyear investigation conducted by the Office's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU). 

Shawn Blankenship, who also owns Holistic Inc. in Kanawha County, admitted he knowingly and willfully caused the submission of materially false claims to Medicaid and its Managed Care Organizations for medical services that were not provided. 

“Whether it's stealing from our state's Medicaid dollars, abuse of patients or skirting claims procedures, our Medicaid Fraud Control office will vigorously pursue cases each and every time they are discovered," Attorney General McCuskey said. “These types of cases take Medicaid resources away from those who need them most. Our office remains committed to rooting out fraud, waste and abuse." 

Blankenship is facing a maximum of 40 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, a $1 million fine, and approximately $600,000 in restitution to the Medicaid program. Sentencing is set for July 21. 

MFCU worked the investigation in conjunction with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HIS), and the United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia. 

Anyone who suspects potential Medicaid fraud or patient abuse should report information to the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit tip line at 888-372-8398 or via the Attorney General's website at www.ago.wv.gov.​