Concord woman arrested in $10G mileage reimbursement scam

CONCORD - A Concord woman has been arrested in connection with allegations she caused fraudulent Medicaid claims to be filed.

Kirsten Porter, 30, was charged Thursday with Theft by Deception, Medicaid Fraud - False Claims, and Medicaid Fraud - False Records.

According to the complaint, Porter is alleged to have provided a false home address in Claremont on mileage reimbursement forms that she submitted to New Hampshire Medicaid's non-emergency medical transportation broker between June 24, 2022, and November 30, 2022. By falsely claiming that she was travelling to Concord from Claremont when she was, in fact, living in Concord, Porter unlawfully obtained $9,739.62 in Medicaid funds.

Porter was arraigned on these charges on Monday in the Merrimack Superior Court. She was released on personal recognizance with a dispositional conference set for a date not yet determined.

The charges and allegations are merely accusations, and Porter is presumed innocent until proved guilty.

The maximum penalty on the Theft by Deception charge, a class A felony, is 7 ½ - 15 years in the New Hampshire State Prison and a $4,000.00 fine. The maximum penalty for the Medicaid fraud charges, both class B felonies, is 3 ½ - 7 years in the New Hampshire State Prison and a $4,000.00 fine on each charge.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates and prosecutes fraud by healthcare providers who treat Medicaid beneficiaries. Healthcare providers include, but are not limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, doctors, dentists, pharmacies, ambulance companies, and anyone else who is paid for providing healthcare services to Medicaid beneficiaries. If you would like to report a case of provider fraud, please contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at (603) 271-1246.