Woman Sentenced for Medicaid Fraud After Posing as Nurse

A Maryland woman who fraudulently posed as a registered nurse has been sentenced for Medicaid fraud, according to an announcement by Attorney General Anthony G. Brown. Nicole Lynn Vanhorn, 38, of Denton, pleaded guilty to one count of Medicaid fraud valued over $1,500. Her deception led to unauthorized payments for nursing services she was not qualified to perform.

On January 22, 2025, the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County sentenced Vanhorn to five years, which was suspended in favor of five years of probation. The first three years will be supervised by the Department of Parole and Probation. As part of the sentence, Vanhorn is prohibited from practicing nursing unless properly licensed, working with elderly or vulnerable adults, or being employed by healthcare agencies receiving state or federal funding.

In August 2023, Vanhorn secured employment at Denton Nursing and Rehab in Caroline County by falsely claiming to be a registered nurse. She used the credentials of a similarly named nurse from Pennsylvania and fabricated academic records from the University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania State University. Over a span of 18 days, she worked nine shifts as a registered nurse supervisor, administering medications and overseeing other healthcare workers. Maryland Medicaid paid $3,576.20 for services based on her fraudulent claims.

Attorney General Brown emphasized that nursing licensure requirements are in place to protect patients from unqualified individuals. His office, in coordination with the Medicaid Fraud and Vulnerable Victims Unit and the Delaware Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, led the investigation that resulted in Vanhorn’s conviction. The Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud and Vulnerable Victims Unit is partially funded by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors.

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