They Came for Addiction Help — Medicaid Got a $584,000 Upcharge: North Carolina Treatment Provider Settles Allegations of Billing for Pricier Drug Tests Than Patients Needed
A Greensboro treatment provider has agreed to pay more than $584,000 to resolve allegations that it improperly billed North Carolina’s Medicaid program, state and federal officials announced.
Crossroads Treatment Center of Greensboro, which provides services for patients with substance use disorders, reached the settlement with the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina. The agreement resolves civil allegations and does not include a determination of liability.
Under the settlement, $584,143 will be paid, with half of the funds returning to the Medicaid program and the other half designated for North Carolina public schools.
Authorities allege that between 2019 and 2023, Crossroads submitted claims for urine drug testing without allowing physicians to order lower-cost, less complex testing options. As a result, Medicaid was billed for more expensive tests than were medically necessary.
The provider voluntarily closed its clinical laboratory in 2024.
Officials said the billing irregularities were first identified by Trillium Health Resources, a managed care organization that oversees Medicaid services in parts of the state. The issue was then referred to state oversight officials and ultimately investigated by the North Carolina Department of Justice and federal authorities.
The allegations resolved in the settlement have not been proven in court.
She Was Supposed to Help the Poor Keep Their Lights On — Instead, She Ransomed the Aid: Madison County Woman Sentenced for Soliciting Bribes From Vulnerable Families
A Madison County woman has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison after admitting to soliciting bribes tied to a federal assistance program, prosecutors said.
Megan Nicole Tillery, 39, of Meridianville, was sentenced to 28 months in prison after pleading guilty in October 2025 to a racketeering-related charge involving the use of interstate communications.
Abusing one’s position for personal gain, especially during a time of crisis, shows a blatant disregard for the oath that every government official takes,” said David R. Fitzgibbons, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Birmingham Division.
According to court documents, Tillery worked as a community intake specialist for a local agency that helped administer the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, a federally funded program that provides financial aid to eligible households to help cover energy costs.
Between July 2022 and December 2023, Tillery used her position to solicit payments from individuals in exchange for applying program funds to their utility accounts, including some who did not qualify for assistance. In other instances, she demanded money from individuals who were already eligible for benefits, falsely telling them payment was required to reduce their bills.
Authorities said Tillery collected more than $15,000 in bribes during the scheme.
They Were Supposed to Be Trained to Care — Instead, They Weren’t Even Cleared: PA Lifesharing Pays $1.2 Million After Medicaid Billed for Unqualified Direct Support Staff
A Pennsylvania-based service provider has agreed to pay more than $1.2 million to resolve allegations that it improperly billed Medicaid for services performed by unqualified staff, federal prosecutors said.
PA Lifesharing, LLC reached a $1,211,095 settlement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania to resolve claims brought under the False Claims Act. The agreement does not include an admission of liability.
According to authorities, the company submitted Medicaid claims between January 2022 and December 2024 for one-on-one support services provided by Direct Support Professionals who were not properly trained or cleared to perform the work, in violation of program requirements.
Medicaid rules require that individuals providing such services meet specific training and qualification standards to ensure patient safety and appropriate care.
The settlement stems from a whistleblower lawsuit filed under federal law that allows private individuals to bring claims on behalf of the government. The whistleblower in the case will receive more than $242,000 as part of the recovery.
Investigators said the company cooperated after becoming aware of the investigation, including identifying some improper claims and taking steps to address the issues.
The case was handled by federal prosecutors with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
The allegations resolved in the settlement have not been proven in court.
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