The Attorney General’s Office filed felony charges on Monday in King County Superior Court against a Federal Way man the state alleges fraudulently obtained more than $15,000 from the state and federal government in three different schemes involving Medicaid, food stamps and social security.
The state alleges that during 2011 through August 2012, when the Medicaid client for whom he worked passed away, Kim fraudulently billed Medicaid for care when the client was out of the country and after she passed away.
The state also alleges Kim fraudulently used his client’s food stamp card to purchase items at Costco when she was out of the country. Kim also allegedly deposited his client’s Social Security benefits into his own bank account from June 2012 until January 2013.
The Asian Counseling and Referral Service referred the case to the Attorney General’s Office via a Department of Social and Health Services provider fraud report.
MFCU investigator Kenneth Harkcom investigated the case. Assistant Attorney General Marty Raap will prosecute.
Prosecutors with the Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) charged Han-Bae Kim with one count of first-degree theft, one count of second-degree theft; one count of unlawful redemption of food stamps and one county of Medicaid false statement. The court could also order Kim to pay restitution.
The Attorney General’s MFCU investigates and prosecutes healthcare provider fraud committed against the state’s Medicaid program. The unit also coordinates with local law enforcement authorities to investigate and prosecute abuse and neglect in cases involving vulnerable adults residing in Medicaid-funded residential facilities.
Report suspected Medicaid fraud at (360) 586-8888 or email MFCUreferrals@atg.wa.gov.
The Department of Social and Health Services Office of Fraud & Accountability investigates client fraud. You may report Medicaid client fraud via the department’s online complaint form, call the welfare fraud hotline at 1-800-562-6906 or send the complaint to Welfare Fraud Hotline, P.O. Box 45817, Olympia, WA 98504-5817.
