By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The former office manager for a Chehalis medical clinic is serving four months in jail for falsifying Medicaid claims.
Robert L. Miller Jr. 61, was sentenced in Lewis County Superior Court this week following a plea agreement that included Miller repaying some $30,000 in billings to the state, according to court documents.
Miller was part owner of Wooten Primary Care, a clinic that employed two temporary physicians after Dr. David A. Wooten found his license suspended in the spring of 2006.
Miller billed Medicaid using those doctor’s Medicaid numbers after they were no longer working there, and put the money into the corporate account, according to Washington State Assistant Attorney General Aileen Miller.
“We know those doctors didn’t provide the services, because they were not there,” Miller said yesterday.
Robert Miller pleaded guilty in January to first-degree theft and Medicaid false statements. His sentencing was held off until Wednesday, until after he paid restitution which he has done.
Several counts of false statements were dismissed as part of the deal, according to Aileen Miller. The remaining count involved Robert Miller submitting statements to Medicaid falsely saying Wooten sold the practice, according to Aileen Miller.
Wooten Primary Care had some 6,000 patients when the state Department of Health suspended Wooten’s’ license with allegations of substandard care relating to narcotics prescriptions, threatening behavior and romantic relationships with patients.
His license was reinstated with conditions, but in early 2008 the clinic on South Market Boulevard closed.
Robert L. Miller, who is Wooten’s father-in-law, has a 2003 conviction in Michigan for embezzlement, according to the court file.
His lawyer wrote in court documents he has been working as a sales manager for the past year and half in his home state of Indiana.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter