MACON, Ga. — Editors Note: The video attached to this story is from previous coverage.
A Macon family rehab owner pleaded guilty to illegally instructing employees to "doctor" forms requested as part of a federal civil investigation, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
Brenda Hicks, 58, owned Middle Georgia Family Rehab and told employees to lie on forms that had not been filled out, federal prosecutors say.
On Wednesday, Hicks pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. She faces a maximum of 20 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, the press release said.
When federal investigators came seeking records, prosecutors say many of the requested documents were originally blank or not fully filled out.
"Hicks explained that if the records were not there or had not been signed, the employees were supposed to create or sign the records," the press release said. "These narrative sections were supposed to contain unique information from each session, such as the patient’s pain level and what exercises were performed at the visit. One employee expressed concern to the other employee that what they were doing was illegal and quit."
It all stemmed from a civil investigation into the company's billing practice.
Back in 2022, the U.S. Attorney's Office alleged that Middle Georgia Family Rehab "knowingly submitted" roughly 800 false claims to Medicaid and TRICARE over an eight-month period.
In particular, the civil investigation found the rehab center submitted claims for physical and speech therapists who no longer worked for the agency.
When investigators asked for records as part of that case, federal prosecutors then said that Hicks submitted those "doctored patient records" to the U.S. Attorney's Office's civil division.
Back in June 2022, a federal judge ordered the company to pay over $9.6 million in civil penalties for the alleged fraudulent filings, an earlier press release said.
And on Wednesday, prosecutors found she criminally attempted to interfere with the investigation.
"Hicks now admits that she conspired to corruptly alter patient records with the intent to impair the integrity of those records and their availability for use in a civil action," the press release said.
In the press release announcing the $9.6 million judgment, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said that the actions of the Middle Georgia Family Rehab impacted taxpayers.
“When Medicaid providers fraudulently divert funds for personal gain, not only does it undermine the needs of those who are most vulnerable, but the taxpayers of Georgia are harmed as well,” Carr said at the time. “Middle Georgia Family Rehab was charged with providing trusted health services to our military families and children in-need, and it failed to fulfill its responsibilities by instead choosing to exploit the system."
As part of her plea agreement, the press release says that Hicks is also required to pay back TRICARE, Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicaid and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. They say Hicks will be sentenced on Sept. 5.