Michigan AG: $510,000 In Public Medicaid Funds Spent On Palm Reader
EAST LANSING (WWJ) - A mid-Michigan man has been charged with felony embezzlement and Medicaid fraud in a case that involved a half-million dollars and a fortune teller.
The Michigan Attorney General's office claims 68-year-old Ervin Brinker, who was the CEO of Summit Pointe in Battle Creek, paid $510,000 in public Medicaid funds to a psychic palm reader in Key West — fraudulently claiming it was for health care consulting.
Summit Pointe is the mental health authority for Calhoun County. The company also does business with the state and several other southwest Michigan counties.
"Ensuring integrity in our health care system is critical to the safety of all Michigan citizens," said AG Bill Schuette, in announcing the charges. "Anyone attempting to skirt the law at the expense of patients and taxpayers will be identified and brought to justice. I would like to thank Summit Pointe for bringing this case to our attention and providing assistance and full cooperation to ensure this never happens again."
Brinker was arraigned Tuesday in East Lansing's 54B District Court and released on a $25,000 bond with his next court date set for Aug. 12.
He faces up to ten years in prison if convicted.