Ohio A.G. Notes Plea Agreement in Medicaid Case

Following an extensive investigation by Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro’s Health Care Fraud Section and other state and local agencies, a Warren County physician pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud.

Dr. Kyle Howard, 58, pleaded guilty to one count of Medicaid fraud, a fourth-degree felony, in Warren County Common Pleas Court. In doing so, the Lebanon physician also agreed to pay $215,003.71 in restitution to public and private health-care insurers, forfeit $400,000 in assets and surrender his licenses to practice medicine and prescribe controlled substances.

Howard reportedly defrauded Medicaid and other insurers by claiming to spend more time with patients than he actually was.

The Attorney General’s Office worked cooperatively with the Warren-Clinton Drug & Strategic Operations Task Force, Warren County Prosecutor’s Office and several state and federal agencies and private insurers to build the case against Howard.