Three facing stiff prison sentences in Medicaid fraud case

CNCORD - A Merrimack County grand jury has returned indictments charging three Granite Staters with Medicaid fraud.

Joseph Bye, 31, and Sara Lapointe, 28, both of Claremont are accused of felony theft and Medicaid fraud, while Kimberly Patterson, 51, of Cornish was formally charged with felony perjury and Medicaid fraud.

According to the charging documents, in April 2022, the New Hampshire Department of Justice Medicaid Fraud Control Unit began investigating Bye and Lapointe after receiving information that the pair were submitting fraudulent requests for mileage reimbursement.

They are both charged with class A felony theft by deception and two class B felony counts of Medicaid fraud. Patterson is charged with two class B felony counts of Medicaid fraud - false statements, and a class B felony count of perjury.

Lapointe's next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 27, while Bye's next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 6. Patterson's arraignment has not been scheduled yet.

The charges and allegations against the three are accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proved guilty.

The maximum penalty for class A felonies is 7 ½ to 15 years in the New Hampshire State Prison and a $4,000.00 fine. The maximum penalty for class B felonies is 3 ½ to 7 years in the New Hampshire State Prison and a $4,000.00 fine.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates and prosecutes fraud by healthcare providers who treat Medicaid beneficiaries. Healthcare providers include, but are not limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, doctors, dentists, pharmacies, ambulance companies, and anyone else who is paid for providing healthcare services to Medicaid beneficiaries. If you would like to report a case of provider fraud, please contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at (603) 271-1246.