The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware)

October 24, 2012 Wednesday

Dover doctor pleads guilty, gets prison term

BYLINE: By, Sean O’Sullivan

SECTION: CRIME & COURTS

LENGTH: 350 words

The News Journal
A former Dover psychiatrist who was accused of improperly prescribing painkillers and defrauding the state’s Medicaid program of more than $172,000 admitted guilt Tuesday, was fined and sentenced to a year in prison.
Yvette K. Baker, 53, admitted to four felony counts of health care fraud and two misdemeanor charges of false representation and making a false statement in Kent County Superior Court.
Baker, who has been incarcerated since she was arrested in Alabama and extradited back to Delaware in January, was sentenced immediately by Judge T. Henley Graves to one year in prison and was ordered to pay $273,000 in restitution and fines.
With credit for time served and good time credit, she could be out of prison before the end of the year.
Baker’s attorney Adam Windett said justice was served with the plea deal and his client now is looking forward to “moving on and rebuilding her life.”
At sentencing, Deputy Attorney General Christina Showalter told the court that Baker “epitomizes the epidemic of prescription drug abuse in our state.”
Baker was accused of operating a “pill mill” or prescribing painkillers with little or no documentation, and receiving reimbursements from the state’s Medicaid program for more than $172,000 between July 2006 and July 2009 at the Psychiatric Wellness Center in Dover.
Baker’s medical license was suspended by state officials in July 2010 and she disappeared in July 2011, shortly after prosecutors filed a 62-count felony health care fraud case against her. Baker was located and arrested in Huntsville, Ala., in October 2011.
“The abuse of prescription drugs is a growing epidemic threatening public health and safety and devastating our families,” said Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden in a statement. “With this case we’re sending a clear message that we’re committed to going after those who improperly prescribe addictive drugs and that we’re committed to cutting waste and fraud to protect this valuable program for all Delawareans.”