By Cathy Locke
clocke@sacbee.com
An Elk Grove woman has been sentenced to prison and ordered to make restitution for making fraudulent claims for of hundreds of thousands of dollars in healthcare benefits.
Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Savage sentenced Rosalee Marie Barfield, 28, to seven years in state prison and also ordered her to make restitution to four Sacramento-area medical facilities, according to the Sacramento District Attorney's office.
On Aug. 27, 2009, the Sacramento Police Department responded to Kaiser Permanente South Medical Center on Bruceville Road regarding a report of medical fraud. The hospital contacted police when Barfield gave a false name and false date of birth. Staff members recognized her and realized they had treated her before, but under different names, according to a District Attorney's Office news release.
An ongoing investigation by Detective Joyce Thorgrimson revealed that Barfield went to several Sacramento-area hospitals to receive treatment for various health problems, including sickle cell anemia. At each visit, she gave a different name, different date of birth, different medical history and a story of acute pain requiring intravenous narcotics.
During the investigation, Barfield's history of seeking drugs from local hospitals revealed at least 244 incidents since 1999 in which she received medical treatment, including prescribed narcotic medications, under false names. According to Barfield's health records, she does not suffer from sickle cell anemia or the sickle cell trait, the news release said.
Barfield acknowledged at her sentencing that she has a drug problem.
Deputy District Attorney Lani Biafore said Barfield has been ordered to pay $373,436 in restitution to the Kaiser Permanente healthcare system and $194,639 to Mercy Healthcare. She said the UC Davis and Sutter healthcare systems also are entitled to restitution and have 45 days to submit their requests to the District Attorney's Office.
Call The Bee's Cathy Locke, (916) 321-5287.
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