A Niles couple charged with several felony counts of Medicaid fraud through their counseling practice pleaded guilty in the Ingham County Circuit Court, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced. Gregory Barney pleaded to two counts of Medicaid Fraud – False Claim; his wife, Jacquelyn Barney, also pleaded to two counts of Medicaid Fraud – False Claim. The Barneys agreed to pay over $48,000 restitution to the Medicaid program. Each charge is a four-year felony. Gregory Barney, a licensed marriage and family counselor, is the owner of Highland Counseling Center, located in Niles, Michigan. His wife, Jacquelyn Barney, is the office manager, administrator, and biller for the business. The Department of Attorney General’s investigation revealed that Jacquelyn Barney, while working as a biller for a separate local medical office, obtained patient information from the other practice and billed Medicaid for counseling sessions provided by Gregory Barney and the Highland Counseling Center that were never provided. Clients contacted during the investigation stated they did not know Gregory Barney and were not counseled by him.
