Pueblo County couple accused of Medicaid fraud related to speech therapy

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser says a couple in Pueblo County is facing charges after billing the state’s Medicaid program for speech therapy services that weren’t provided.

According to a news release issued Tuesday, Frank and Melanie Palcic are accused of fraudulent billing practices between 2014 and 2017. The pair operated Greenhorn Health Services and Southern Colorado Therapy Care.

Weiser’s office says the Palcics were reimbursed $1.5 million by Medicaid for speech therapy services, but 70 percent of their claims didn’t have supporting documentation and didn’t actually occur.

With about 40% of all residents in Pueblo County receiving Medicaid insurance, Weiser says it’s important to “crack down on those who seek to take advantage of the system through criminal means.”

Melanie and Frank Palcic are charged with theft, conspiracy to commit theft, two counts of computer crime, and two counts of conspiracy to commit computer crime.

They were arrested and booked into the Pueblo County Jail and will appear in court later Tuesday.