ST. LOUIS — U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey sentenced Camille S. Childress to 15 months in prison for health care fraud. The judge also ordered Childress to repay an amount to Missouri Medicaid for false claims submitted through her home health care company.

Childress pleaded guilty in March to one count of health care fraud. She had submitted fraudulent documents to enroll her company, Inspiring Angels LLC, with the state program. The enrollment paperwork falsely claimed that someone else owned the business. Childress concealed her ownership because a 2012 criminal conviction would have disqualified her from participating in Missouri Medicaid.

After enrolling the company, Childress submitted fraudulent claims seeking reimbursement for home healthcare services that were never provided. Missouri Medicaid paid an amount for these claims, which were submitted in 2021 and 2022. In some instances, clients were in the hospital and could not have received health care services at home during the claimed service periods. Childress also submitted claims when the company did not have timesheet records or documentation of the services.

The investigation involved the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the FBI. Linda T. Hanley, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, commented on the sentencing. Health care providers who try to enrich themselves by submitting false claims to Missouri Medicaid not only drain taxpayer funds but also undermine the integrity of safety net programs designed to provide services to patients who genuinely need them, Hanley said. Today’s sentencing shows the unwavering commitment of HHS OIG and our law enforcement partners to investigate allegations of fraud, Hanley added.