Idaho dental hygienist charged with Medicaid fraud

An Idaho dental hygienist has been charged with Medicaid fraud for allegedly performing services for which she would have needed a dental license.

Cherie Dillon, 60, of Fruitland, ID, faces charges of healthcare fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to a statement by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Idaho. Dillon, a dental hygienist at Dental Healthcare with Heart in Payette, ID, performed dental services between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2013, that may only be performed by a dentist.

Dillon was paid for the services from healthcare benefit programs while fraudulently misrepresenting that the services had been performed by a dentist. She also used the name and provider number of a dentist who was not in the office and who was unable to practice at the time, according to the statement.

Dillon could be sentenced to prison for several years and fined as much as $500,000.