News ReleasesFilter
Rutledge Announces Medicaid Fraud Arrests Involving Falsified Documents and Stolen Hydrocodone
Tue, Nov 13, 2018LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today announced the arrest of a Cross County woman for Medicaid fraud and a Pulaski County woman for fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance.
Tamika Rucker, 35, of Wynne, is accused of charging for services not rendered and falsifying timesheets from February through May 2016. Following an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office, Rucker was arrested. She is charged with one count of Medicaid fraud, a Class C felony.
This case was referred to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit by the Office of Medicaid Inspector General.
Jill Riley, 55, of Sherwood, is accused of stealing hydrocodone pills while working at a North Little Rock facility in July 2018. Following an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office, Riley was arrested. She is charged with one count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, a Class C felony.
“Medicaid is an important safety net for many Arkansans,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “I will continue to investigate and hold those accountable who steal medications and abuse the system.”
Medicaid fraud occurs when providers use the Medicaid program to obtain money to which they are not entitled. To report Medicaid fraud or abuse or neglect in residential care facilities, contact the Attorney General’s Medicaid fraud hotline at (866) 810-0016 or oag@arkansasag.gov.
MORE
Arkansans Turned Over 26,000 Pounds of Pills at Statewide Prescription Drug Take Back Day
Thu, Nov 8, 2018LITTLE ROCK – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Charge Justin King, joined by Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, announced that 26,529 pounds of medication was collected as part of the semi-annual Prescription Drug Take Back held on Saturday, Oct. 27.
“The Prescription Drug Take Back days are an important piece of my collaborative approach to combatting the opioid crisis,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “By safely disposing more than 26,000 pounds of old, expired or unused prescription medications we are ensuring these lethal drugs are kept off the streets and out of the hands of our friends and neighbors.”
“The people of the state of Arkansas should be proud of their efforts during the recent Drug Take Back which resulted in the collection and destruction of 26,529 pounds of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge King. “Arkansas continues to lead other states in the region in the volume of drugs collected during Take Back, which is a testament to the outstanding efforts of everyone involved. We would like to thank everyone who participated in this critical event which makes our homes and communities safer, while raising awareness of the opioid epidemic threatening the people of Arkansas.”
Semi-annually a Prescription Drug Take Back Day is held with the Arkansas Attorney General’s office, Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Department of Human Services, Arkansas National Guard, Arkansas Rotary Clubs, Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy, DEA, FBI, Office of the State Drug Director and over 130 additional law enforcement and government agencies, community organizations and public health providers.
Event sites are held at various locations across the State but year-round locations are also available and can be found at ARTakeBack.org. The Attorney General’s office also hosts take back events at mobile offices around the State. Since the program began, more than 72 tons of medication have been collected in Arkansas, which is an estimated 201 million individual pills.