Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte announces that a Merrimack County Grand Jury has indicted Lee Bird, 54 years old, of Concord for the felony offense of theft by deception. The indictment alleges that Bird, while in private practice as a licensed clinical social worker, falsely billed the State’s Medicaid program for counseling sessions that were never provided. According to the indictment, between January of 2004 and February of 2007, Bird submitted multiple claims on behalf of ten Medicaid beneficiaries, falsely representing that he was treating them. Bird was paid $65 for each claimed session. The alleged theft amount totals more than $21,000.

The case was referred to the Medicaid Fraud Unit in the Office of the Attorney General for investigation following an audit conducted by the Medicaid program’s surveillance and utilization review unit. Attorney General Ayotte said: “The State works diligently to protect the integrity of government programs like Medicaid. Allegations of fraud will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”