A Beatrice woman was charged Monday with fraud after she was accused of billing Medicaid for child therapy services without parents' knowledge or consent, according to court documents.
Sheree Burney, 40, was charged with five counts of fraud to obtain assistance more than $1,500.
The Medicaid Fraud and Patient Abuse Unit, which is a part of the Nebraska Attorney General's Office, opened an investigation against Burney regarding records dating back to 2017 according to the probable cause affidavit.
Burney is a licensed independent mental health practitioner and was the only provider at Brighter Side Behavioral Health.
Burney's husband ran a Lincoln youth basketball program called Guidance to Success.
According to the affidavit, investigators interviewed the parents of the children who were being billed for mental health services. One parent, who was the mother of three children who were billed, told investigators she was never contacted about setting up any therapy or counseling sessions.
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All three children participated in the Guidance to Success program, but she was unaware of them participating in anything other than basketball activities.
The mother also said her children had never received a mental health diagnosis or even had a discussion about it with their doctor.
Parents of two other children who participated in the Guidance to Success program said their kids had not received any mental health services but were billed by Burney, according to the affidavit.
Both parents told investigators they did not fill out any paperwork for Guidance to Success and all their children did was play basketball.
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Another parent of a child who participated in the Guidance to Success program said her child was diagnosed with anxiety in 2021 and has received mental health services.
However, between 2017 and 2020, their child received no services. According to the affidavit, the first claim to Medicaid was made for the child in 2017.
When investigators showed the child's mother claims for mental health services, she said she was unaware of any claims.
Investigators found documents with fraudulent parent signatures on consent to treat forms.
Burney was interviewed with her attorney present in December 2023.
During the interview, she said the children participated in group therapy sessions and the parents knew of the services.
According to the affidavit, Burney submitted 281 claims for children participating in the basketball program from September 2019 to July 2020.
In total, the value of all the claims was $47,135.
Judge Laurie Yardley set Burney's percentage bond at $5,000.
She was bonded out of Lancaster County jail.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7254 or [email protected].
On Twitter @Alex_Vargas1994
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