EDMONDS — An Everett woman was arrested Tuesday, accused of stealing another woman’s identity to get health insurers to pay for doctor visits and prescription narcotics, Washington State Patrol investigators said.
Police allege the woman, 48, received nearly $180,000 in medical services and prescription drugs in her identity theft scheme.
In 2006, she allegedly stole the identity of a roommate at a homeless shelter, said Sgt. Dennis Bosman, a State Patrol spokesman.
The woman is accused of using the roommate’s date of birth, Social Security number and other specific identification information to get appointments with doctors. Detectives believe she became skilled in presenting doctors with symptoms that likely would result in prescriptions for narcotics.
The roommate whose identity was stolen was a Medicaid client of the state Department of Social and Health Services, Bosman said.
In late 2007, a contractor for the state noticed duplicate billing for the client.
“The health plan’s billing department realized they were paying bills for virtually simultaneous appointments for the same person,” said Dave Strartup, a State Patrol detective. “The fact that they were watching their pennies led to the unraveling of this scheme.”
State social service officials were able to identify the woman as an impostor and the investigation was turned over to the State Patrol, Bosman said.
Most of the $180,000 in losses will be borne by Medicaid and some of the medical providers, he said. The state social and health services department is out about $20,000 in state funds. No money was taken from the woman whose identity was stolen.
Edmonds police assisted state troopers in arresting the woman Tuesday.
She was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of nine counts of theft, six counts of forgery, one count of first-degree identity theft and warrants for drug offenses. She is expected to go before a judge today.
Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com
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