Attorney General Jack Conway today announced that a Franklin County Grand Jury has returned a felony indictment against a Kentucky optometrist for Medicaid fraud.

Investigators arrested 51-year-old Paul Patterson of Greensburg on Friday. He was lodged in the Franklin County jail, but is free after posting ten percent of a $5,000 bond. He will make an appearance in Franklin Circuit Court on May 9 at 9 a.m.

According to the indictment, Patterson fraudulently billed the Kentucky Medicaid Program for optometric services to children entering the Head Start Programs in Liberty that he either did not perform or were not medically necessary. The indictment alleges that Patterson engaged in the fraudulent billing between November 2004 and February 2007. Patterson faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

The indictment was sought by Attorney General Conway’s Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control.  Citizens are urged to report suspected fraud or elder abuse by calling the Attorney General’s tip line at 1-877-ABUSE TIP (1-877-228-7384).