Colorado Springs woman ordered to pay $204K in restitution for stealing from Medicaid in fraudulent billing

Sept. 14, 2022 (DENVER)—Attorney General Phil Weiser today announced that a judge ordered Martha Sutherland, of Colorado Springs, to pay $204,000 in restitution for submitting Medicaid claims and being paid for psychological testing services that never happened.

During today’s court hearing, Sutherland pleaded guilty to felony theft (F5). In addition to restitution, the judge also sentenced Sutherland to two years of probation.

“Those who defraud the system that helps vulnerable Coloradans receive the care they need must be held accountable,” Weiser said. “I applaud our team’s ongoing work to uncover misuse of Medicaid fund dollars and recover that money for those who need it.”

An investigation by the department’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit found that between and including May 2, 2019 and Feb. 26, 2021, Sutherland, operator of Front Range Mental Health and Summit Assessments in Colorado Springs, routinely filed claims and received Medicaid reimbursement for pre-bariatric surgery mental health assessments that were not provided. According to the arrest warrant affidavit filed in El Paso County District Court, Sutherland also billed for the same service multiple times.

The case is filed in El Paso County District Court and the case number is 2022CR2313.

The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is dedicated to protecting the integrity of the system that provides healthcare to the most vulnerable Coloradans. It accomplishes this through the investigation and prosecution of Medicaid provider fraud as well as the investigation and prosecution of the abuse and neglect of Medicaid clients in non-institutional settings as well as the abuse and neglect of patients in institutions that receive Medicaid dollars. To report potential Medicaid fraud, click here or call (720) 508-6696.

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