Westmoreland Co. Woman Indicted In $600,000 Health Care Fraud

LATROBE, Pa. (AP) - A western Pennsylvania woman has been charged with stealing more than $600,000 from a health insurer.

Latrobe resident Kari Richards was indicted Tuesday in U.S. District Court on charges of health care fraud and obtaining medication through fraud.

Police tell the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Richards traveled to more than 100 hospitals in 11 states to obtain prescriptions for shoulder dislocations she was causing herself.

During a 16-month period, authorities say Richards sought treatment at hospitals more than 300 times.

A grand jury said Richards defrauded Highmark's Community Blue Shared Cost plan by obtaining 190 prescriptions for oxycodone and other opiates between January 2014 and April 2015.

Richards was arrested Wednesday and released pending trial. Online court records did not list a lawyer to comment on the charges.

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