LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – A former clerk for a Missouri-based health nonprofit
has pleaded guilty in Arkansas to participating in a conspiracy as part of a
wide-ranging corruption investigation in the two states.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports Vicki Chisam was originally
charged with felony Medicaid fraud, but pleaded guilty Monday in Independence
County to a lesser charge of participating in a conspiracy. Prosecutors alleged
Chisam helped facilitate $3 million in improper Medicaid billing for
Missouri-based Preferred Family Health.
Chisam worked for Health Resources of Arkansas, which was acquired by Preferred
Family Health in 2014.
Two other former workers have been charged by the Arkansas attorney general’s
office in the investigation, including one who admitted paying more than $35,000
in bribes to former Arkansas state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, who pleaded guilty to
three federal charges last month.
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