A woman in Maryland has been sentenced to three years in prison for impersonating a physician assistant and treating and diagnosing 137 infants and children, according to the Department of Justice.
Shawna Gunter began working as a PA for a pediatrician who had two offices in Maryland after falsely telling the physician she had just graduated from college with a degree as a PA. She also faxed a false resume to the physician.
After providing the office with a forged PA certificate, an altered and fraudulent DEA controlled substance registration certificate and a fabricated diploma, Ms. Gunter began seeing pediatric patients without direct supervision Aug. 18, 2013, according to the DOJ.
Along with treating and diagnosing infants and children, Ms. Gunter also issued over 400 prescriptions for controlled substances.
Due to the care Ms. Gunter provided without a medical license, the pediatrician's office that employed her submitted hundreds of false claims to Medicaid, according to the DOJ.
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