by Robin Kemp
A Clayton County grand jury has indicted two people on conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud.
According to Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Deanna Chapman Granger and George W. Granger Jr. were each indicted Monday on one count. If convicted, they could face one to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
Carr said the Louisiana Attorney General’s Medical Fraud Unit assisted in the investigation. The couple has ties to New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana.
According to the grand jury indictment, the Grangers allegedly conspired to overbill Amerigroup Community Care, a managed care program that is reimbursed through Georgia Medicaid, from approximately April 14, 2015 through November 2, 2016, a total of $76,364.66.
Deanna Granger, a state-licensed professional counselor, had a business called Devoted to Change Gradually, LLC at 2045 Mt. Zion Road, Suite 371 in Morrow. She was the only person with a provider ID at the company. Both she and George Granger, Jr. were signatories on the company’s Wells Fargo checking account. The indictment alleges that, during the stated timeframe, the Grangers “caused numerous claims for reimbursement of services to be submitted to Amerigroup” and that “(i)t was part of the conspiracy for George Grainger, Jr. to submit claims for services to Amerigroup that were not actually provided.”
The indictment also lists 15 claims, with billing numbers, that the Grangers allegedly made while “travelling out of the State and unable to have provided such services on such dates.”
“Our office remains dedicated to protecting taxpayer dollars and pursuing potential instances of healthcare fraud,” said Carr. “Through our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, we work diligently to uphold the integrity of Georgia’s Medicaid program and hold accountable those who would abuse this public trust. We are proud of our efforts and look forward to seeking justice in this case.”
The company’s principal office address is listed in Georgia Secretary of State filings as 104 Tywood Court in Slidell, LA, a town north of New Orleans. The registered office address is 2640 Lilac Drive in Morrow. Tax records for both addresses do not indicate the Grangers own either property. The company’s listed phone number was out of service and its website could not be reached as of press time. According to its Facebook page, the company has provided “individual, family, group therapy, community support, mentoring, social and parenting skills since 2010.” Deanna Granger added, “It is also my passion to assist clients with feelings of hopelessness and adjustments to difficult life circumstances such as divorce, job stressors, and medical illnesses. It is my pleasure to guide you towards mental wellness so that you can lead a productive life in the way that is best for you.”
The case is listed as pending before Clayton County Superior Court Judge Jewel Scott. A copy of the indictment was sent to District Attorney Tasha Mosley on Tuesday.
The Grangers are considered innocent of the charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.
