Woman gets probation for defrauding Nebraskas Medicaid program [Video]

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – An Omaha-area mental health therapist will have to serve five years of probation and pay $60,000 in restitution after defrauding Nebraska’s Medicaid program.

Pamela Helem, 69, pled no contest and was found guilty of a felony count of Medicaid Fraud, a Class IV felony.

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers said Helem owned and operated Helem’s Counseling and Consulting in Omaha.

An investigation by the Medicaid Fraud and Patient Abuse Unit of the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office found that Helem billed Nebraska Medicaid for providing mental health services while she was actually at one of the casinos in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Helem faced a possible sentence of two years in the state penitentiary.

As part of her probation, Helem was ordered to undergo a gambling addiction risk assessment, not participate in any type of gambling or enter any gambling establishment, and perform 400 hours of community service …