Judge sides with Seasons of Hope

A state hearing officer has cleared a mental health provider with offices in southern and eastern Idaho of Medicaid fraud allegations.

The Chubbuck-based Seasons of Hope clinic lost its Medicaid payments earlier this year after an 18-month investigation by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

Agency investigators concluded the company billed for services not covered, misrepresented services and other problems. The agency also revoked the clinic’s Medicaid provider status and sought more than $439,000 in overpayments.

Seasons of Hope appealed the findings, but also laid off employees and closed clinics.

On Tuesday, a former state judge appointed to oversee the administrative appeal sided with the clinic.

The Idaho State Journal reported (http://bit.ly/OguiZ1 ) that Judge Peter D. McDermott also restored the clinic’s Medicaid provider status and dismissed fraud allegations.