Jennifer Harding Convicted of Theft of Medicaid Funds

Concord, NH – Attorney General John M. Formella announces that Jennifer Harding, age 45, of Pembroke, New Hampshire, has been convicted of class A felony Theft by Deception and class B felony Medicaid Fraud – False Claims.

Harding pleaded guilty in Merrimack County Superior Court to stealing $21,152.52 in Medicaid funds. Between June 2020 and October 2023, Harding submitted fraudulent claims for mileage reimbursement as part of the Family and Friends Mileage Reimbursement Program. Harding claimed she was living with a family member in Barnstead and traveling to healthcare appointments in Concord, a distance of approximately 21 miles each way. However, during that time, Harding lived in Pembroke, less than 7 miles from the treatment facility.

The Court sentenced Harding to serve 1½ to 4 years at the New Hampshire State Prison on the Theft by Deception charge. The sentence was fully deferred for six months, as the defendant has been ordered to comply with several conditions during that deferment period. Additionally, on the Medicaid Fraud – False Claims charge, the Court sentenced Harding to a 2-to-4-year State Prison sentence. That sentence is fully suspended for a period of 7 years on the condition of good behavior and compliance with the terms of the sentence, and it will run consecutively to the Theft charge if imposed. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution of $21,152.52 to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, Harding is now prohibited from further participation in the Family and Friends Mileage Reimbursement Program.

The case was investigated by Financial Investigator Timothy Brackett of the New Hampshire Department of Justice Medicaid Fraud Control Unit as well as Investigator Eric Shirley. The Pembroke Police Department also assisted with the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Connor A. Buchholz and Assistant Attorney General Andrew Yourell, both of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates and prosecutes fraud by healthcare providers who treat Medicaid beneficiaries. Healthcare providers include, but are not limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, doctors, dentists, pharmacies, ambulance companies, and anyone else who is paid for providing healthcare services to Medicaid beneficiaries. If you would like to report a case of provider fraud, please contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at (603) 271-1246.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $987,576 for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2024. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $329,191 for FY 2024, is funded by the State of New Hampshire.