NORTHAMPTON — An Easthampton social worker was ordered Monday to surrender her social worker license by the end of the month after pleading not guilty to charges that she committed $125,000 in insurance fraud over six years.
Kathleen D. McGovern, of Northampton, was arraigned Monday in Hampshire Superior Court on a charge of making false statements in applications for payments of health care benefits and 38 counts of larceny over $250.
Following her arraignment, McGovern was released on conditions that she surrender her social worker license, not engage in the practice of social work and have no contact with those she is alleged to had used to fraudulently bill an insurance company, according to court documents.
Prosecutors allege McGovern fraudulently billed the insurance company Health New England for therapy sessions she had supposedly conducted with 38 separate individuals, but which never happened. The incidents are alleged to have occurred between June 1, 2011 and June 1, 2017.
McGovern’s attorney, David Hoose, declined to comment after Monday’s hearing but previously told the Gazette McGovern “is a longtime, much loved and respected member of the Northampton community, who has for many years practiced social work in Easthampton.”
In the statement, Hoose said McGovern has cooperated with the investigation by the Northwestern district attorney’s office.
The district attorney’s office began investigating McGovern after being notified of the potential fraud in May by the state’s Insurance Fraud Bureau, according to First Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Steven Gagne.
Health New England contacted the state bureau about the alleged incidents. Each of the 38 larceny counts identifies a separate individual by their initials. Insurance Fraud Bureau investigators contacted those people and all confirmed that they had never seen McGovern for counseling services, Gagne said in December.
McGovern’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 24.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.