Health provider arrested for fraud

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - A North Carolina mental health care provider faces more than 15 years in prison following his arrest on 16 felony counts of Medicaid fraud, offering kickbacks and obtaining property by false pretenses.

Bobby Faison of Henderson was arrested by state officials Tuesday over allegations involving $103,075 in attempted fraud. The 41-year-old counselor at Prodigious Health Services is accused of offering Medicaid recipients $25 in cash, payment of utility bills or toys for their children in exchange for information needed to bill taxpayers for mental health services that were never provided.

Attorney General Roy Cooper said Faison's arrest is the latest in a recent statewide crackdown on Medicaid fraud that has resulted in 20 arrests involving about $500,000 in fraudulent billings. So far, 16 people have been convicted.