Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox Charges Nurse with Stealing Pain Killers from Macomb County Nursing Home Patients

drug news wire press release, Jun 17, 2005

Attorney General Mike Cox announced today the filing of three felony charges against a Macomb County registered nurse for stealing prescription pain killers from nursing home patients, falsifying patients' records, and filing false Medicaid claims. It is shocking and unacceptable to have any criminals caring for our state's most vulnerable citizens," said Cox. "Not only did Goodell violate the trust placed in her by her patients and their families, but she also defrauded Michigan taxpayers and the Medicaid system on which so many rely." Susan Lee Goodell, R.N., 49 of St. Clair Shores, turned herself in to Attorney General investigators on Wednesday. She was arraigned by Judge Herman Campbell in Clinton Township's 41-B District Court on one count each of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Medicaid False Claims, and Falsification of Medical Records. Each felony charge carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison. Goodell, who posted a $15,000 bond, will be back in court June 28 at 8:30 a.m. for a preliminary examination. She is no longer employed at the Center.

The charges arise from a chain of events at Church of Christ Nursing Home Center in Clinton Township between July and November 2004. Goodell stole codeine-based narcotics from patients at the facility for her own use, then indicated on both patient records and Medicaid forms that the patients had received their medication. Cox's Health Care Fraud Division, which conducted the investigation into Goodell, recently unveiled two studies showing that approximately 10% of employees working in Michigan's nursing homes and residential care facilities have criminal histories. As a result of the studies, Cox, Sen. Patricia Birkholz (R - Saugatuck Twp.), Sen. Tony Stamas (R - Midland), and Sen. Jud Gilbert (R - Algonac) introduced legislation Wednesday that expands the scope of the Adult Foster Care Facility Licensing Act and the Public Health Code by requiring Michigan's almost 5,000 residential care facilities to conduct criminal background checks of all employees and to conduct the checks annually. The legislation also enhances the criminal sanctions for failing to comply with the requirements of the criminal background check statutes.

The Attorney General's Health Care Fraud Division is one of 49 federally certified Medicaid Fraud Control Units. Medicaid fraud investigations and prosecutions include false billings, unlawful delivery of controlled substances, practicing medicine without a license, kickbacks, and bribery schemes. Abuse and neglect investigations and prosecutions include physical assault, criminal sexual conduct, identity theft, theft of residents' property and funds, and harmful neglect in Michigan residential care facilities. The division also initiates civil actions, including asset forfeiture and claims for Medicaid overpayments.In conducting its activities, the division works closely with other agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice, Michigan State Police, state regulatory agencies, local law enforcement agencies, and private health insurance companies.