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#Post#: 130--------------------------------------------------
Superintendent Casey Smitherman Charged With Fraud For Using Own
Insurance To Help Ill Student
DIR By: Satanica
Date: January 25, 2019, 11:26 am
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HTML https://5newsonline.com/2019/01/23/superintendent-charged-with-fraud-for-using-own-insurance-to-help-ill-student/?fbclid=IwAR2CwpW_3Hla9NGFqamrFD8nXBb8a5-wcoqRYqJUuFN6e9EjhwVY-VFNF-E
--- Quote ---
>
> [....]
> Charges against Casey Smitherman include official misconduct,
insurance fraud, insurance application fraud and identity
deception.
> According to court documents, a 15-year-old student didn’t
come to school on Jan. 9 because he had a sore throat.
Smitherman picked him up and took him to the med check in Elwood
so a doctor could examine him. However, she allegedly signed the
student in under her son’s name and also had a prescription for
Amoxicillin filled at CVS under her son's name.
>
> The teen tore the name off the bottle’s label because he “knew
it was wrong” and “to have a prescription in his possession with
a different name is bad,” court documents said.
>
> Police received a tip about the situation and followed up with
the teen’s guardian on Jan. 16. A day later, Smitherman talked
to Elwood police about the situation.
>
> During her statement, she told police she realized the student
wasn’t at school on Jan. 9 and was worried about him. In the
past, she’s bought clothes for him and helped clean his house,
according to court documents.
>
> She said she didn’t contact the Department of Child Services
because she feared the teen would be placed in foster care, the
documents say. She admitted taking him to the med check and
signing him in under her son’s name.
>
> She also said she’d taken him to CVS to get a prescription,
authorities say, and had the prescription filled under her son’s
name. She dropped the boy off at home with the prescription and
said she didn’t realize he’d torn the name off the bottle.
>
> Medical records obtained by subpoena showed a prescription was
filled under her son’s name on Jan. 9. The total claim was $233,
according to court documents. Police contacted the Department of
Child Services to advise them that "financial help may be
needed" for the teen.
>
> Smitherman issued this statement:
>
> Recently, I was given notice one of our students was not at
school. I went to his home to check on him, and he told me that
he had not felt well enough to come to school. After making
sure he had eaten, I could tell he had some of the symptoms of
strep throat. As a parent, I know how serious this illness can
be if left untreated, and I took him to an emergency clinic.
>
> After one clinic refused to give the boy necessary treatment,
I took him to a different clinic and told them he was my son. I
knew he did not have insurance, and I wanted to do all I could
to help him get well. I know this action was wrong. In the
moment, my only concern was for this child’s health.
>
> I have been charged with three felonies and a misdemeanor, and
I have cooperated with authorities every step of the way. I
turned myself in to the Elwood police this afternoon and was
immediately released on bail. It is my understanding the
prosecutor has agreed to a diversion program and that should be
finalized yet this afternoon.
>
> The Elwood community has been welcoming since I started this
position, and I am so grateful for your support. I am committed
to this community and our students, and I regret if this action
has undermined your trust in me. From the beginning, my ultimate
goal has been to provide the best environment for Elwood
students’ growth physically, mentally and academically, and I
remain focused on that purpose.
>
> School board president Brent Kane has issued a statement of
support below, for which I am also grateful. I am continuing to
work with appropriate authorities as necessary and want to be
transparent about my work with the Elwood community.
>
> The Elwood school board issued this statement:
>
> Dr. Smitherman has tirelessly worked for the best interests of
all students in Elwood Community Schools since she was hired.
She made an unfortunate mistake, but we understand that it was
out of concern for this child’s welfare. We know she understands
what she did was wrong, but she continues to have our support.
>
> It is our understanding that the prosecutor has agreed to a
diversion program and that will be finalized this afternoon.
>
[img]
HTML https://s17-us2.startpage.com/cgi-bin/serveimage?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.insideedition.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2F931x523%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2019-01%2F012419-teacher-insurance-fraud-1280x720.jpg%3Fh%3Dc673cd1c%26amp%3Bitok%3DuTxZ7GLy&sp=1f70474a6aef8e2e2d83366e25ba47f5[/img]
>
--- End Quote ---
#Post#: 163--------------------------------------------------
Re: Superintendent Casey Smitherman Charged With Fraud For Using
Own Insurance To Help Ill Student
DIR By: KatO9Tails
Date: January 25, 2019, 2:03 pm
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this is just wrong
#Post#: 179--------------------------------------------------
Re: Superintendent Casey Smitherman Charged With Fraud For Using
Own Insurance To Help Ill Student
DIR By: Satanica
Date: January 25, 2019, 3:02 pm
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It's strange though. Did she contact the child's parent(s) or
were they there when she went to the home? She also could've
taken the child to the ER where they would've had to treat him
regardless of insurance and payment.
#Post#: 191--------------------------------------------------
Re: Superintendent Casey Smitherman Charged With Fraud For Using
Own Insurance To Help Ill Student
DIR By: Mildly Medicated
Date: January 25, 2019, 4:57 pm
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Not enough background to make a decision. Where are the parents?
Did the child actually have State coverage?
If she just could not get in touch with the parents, then maybe
it makes some sense. Kid is sick, this nice lady does not have
the funds to pay out of pocket.
#Post#: 198--------------------------------------------------
Re: Superintendent Casey Smitherman Charged With Fraud For Using
Own Insurance To Help Ill Student
DIR By: c_xoxo
Date: January 25, 2019, 6:16 pm
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Eh they were probably bangin'!
#Post#: 206--------------------------------------------------
Re: Superintendent Casey Smitherman Charged With Fraud For Using
Own Insurance To Help Ill Student
DIR By: KatO9Tails
Date: January 25, 2019, 7:13 pm
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--- Quote from: Satanica link ---
>
> It's strange though. Did she contact the child's parent(s) or
were they there when she went to the home? She also could've
taken the child to the ER where they would've had to treat him
regardless of insurance and payment.
>
--- End Quote ---
with a bill it would take years to get put from under
#Post#: 212--------------------------------------------------
Re: Superintendent Casey Smitherman Charged With Fraud For Using
Own Insurance To Help Ill Student
DIR By: MurielSchwenck
Date: January 25, 2019, 7:54 pm
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She's not very smart, and she tried to be nice, but it is
definitely fraud. Insurance fraud gets you arrested.
#Post#: 430--------------------------------------------------
Re: Superintendent Casey Smitherman Charged With Fraud For Using
Own Insurance To Help Ill Student
DIR By: GenericUser123
Date: January 28, 2019, 11:25 am
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--- Quote from: c_xoxo link ---
>
> Eh they were probably bangin'!
>
--- End Quote ---
That's what I was thinking.
#Post#: 661--------------------------------------------------
Re: Superintendent Casey Smitherman Charged With Fraud For Using
Own Insurance To Help Ill Student
DIR By: notchback
Date: January 29, 2019, 7:59 pm
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--- Quote from: KatO9Hells link ---
>
> [quote author=Satanica link=topic=55.msg179#msg179
date=1548450152]
> It's strange though. Did she contact the child's parent(s) or
were they there when she went to the home? She also could've
taken the child to the ER where they would've had to treat him
regardless of insurance and payment.
>
--- End Quote ---
with a bill it would take years to get put from under
[/quote]
Not really. There are many cash only clinics now that are not
that expensive. Last year, before we got insurance, I had the
flu and kept getting worse. I finally went to a clinic. They
charge $115 for whatever you need. For me that included chest
x-rays a couple shots and a nebulizer treatment. Turns out my
flu had turned into pneumonia. Afterwards, I went over to Costco
for the prescription and with no insurance, the prescription was
only about $12. It would have been $15 if I had had insurance.
Total of $130.
#Post#: 688--------------------------------------------------
Re: Superintendent Casey Smitherman Charged With Fraud For Using
Own Insurance To Help Ill Student
DIR By: JinxyBean
Date: January 30, 2019, 6:59 am
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--- Quote from: Satanica link ---
>
> It's strange though. Did she contact the child's parent(s) or
were they there when she went to the home? She also could've
taken the child to the ER where they would've had to treat him
regardless of insurance and payment.
>
--- End Quote ---
I don't think he has living parents. The article described the
boy as having a guardian, but also mentioned Smitherman acting
in a parental role (cleaning and clothes). So his guardian may
be nothing more than an older sibling who is not experienced or
stable enough to perform as an adult.
It seems the boy and his guardian are a shade above homeless and
Smitherman is trying to help without getting him flagged by CPS
for foster care.
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