Superintendent is charged with using her son's insurance to help sick student

[EarthFirst]

Superintendent is charged with using her son's insurance to help sick student, but she'll keep her job

(CNN) An Indiana school superintendent is accused of pretending a sick student was her son so she could get him treatment. She's been arrested and charged with fraud, but the school board says it stands behind her.

According to court documents that detail the charges made Wednesday, Casey Smitherman, the superintendent of the Elwood School District, relied on her son's insurance when she was unable to get a sick 15-year-old treatment because she wasn't his guardian.

She noticed the student was missing from school on January 9 and checked on him at his house, where she decided he needed to see a doctor because of a sore throat.

"Dr. Smitherman has tirelessly worked for the best interests of all students in Elwood Community Schools since she was hired. She made an unfortunate mistake, but we understand that it was out of concern for this child's welfare. We know she understands what she did was wrong, but she continues to have our support."

https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/24/health/superintendent-fraud-using-insurance-student-trnd/index.html

It’s unfortunate that taking matters to this level is necessary in our horribly corrupt healthcare system...

Three felonies and a misdemeanor.

You’re one of the good ones; Dr. Smitherman.

[Glorfindel]

1. God bless superintendent Dr. Casey Smitherman

What kind of fucked-up country arrests someone for trying to help a sick child? If there is a go fund me thingy set up to help with Dr. Smitherman's legal defense, I'll be honored to contribute to it.

[CurtEastPoint]

2. I sent her an email thanking her.

http://elwood.k12.in.us/index.php?option=com_contactenhanced&view=contact&layout=edit&id=8

[exboyfil]

3. She believed intervening

In a fraudulent way over doing the logical thing and the one her history as an educator would demand - calling CPS, was a better alternative. Her ad hoc interventions are not a solution.

If the parents are exercising so little care shouldn't the state know about it?

[dflprincess]

4. Because CPS isn't overloaded in most areas

and you think they'll come running because a kid has a sore throat?

As an educator she has probably had enough experience with CPS to know they really weren't an option in this case.

[pecosbob]

5. Three felonies and a misdemeanor

while the insurance companies' death panels continue to routinely kill people with no consequences whatsoever.

[Wounded Bear]

6. They're the ones obviously preferring charges...

and could forgive them if they chose.

[Shemp Howard]

7. She is not a hero.

I'm guessing that Superintendent Smitherman makes well over $100,000 per year. I applaud her for her concern. But she is no hero. She could have paid for that student's care out of her own pocket. She could have referred that student to a public health agency. But instead she chose to lie. This is not a good thing.

I am a veteran public school teacher. I have bought many students lunch. And I have paid for many students who couldn't afford field trips. This is not bragging. My fellow teachers have done much, much more. But none of us have lied, or tried to game the system.

[UniteFightBack]

9. I was kind of thinking the same thing. She's probably making a few bucks and it's just not a good

idea to commit fraud....even if it's for a 'good' reason.

[Ms. Toad]

11. The issue wasn't the money -

it was that she was not his guardian, and the health care need was not an emergency,

In most states, medical facilities can only treat minors for medical emergencies (absent parental/guardian consent). The first place she took him denied treatment - the article didn't include the reference to emergency/non-emergency treatment - but I know that distinction from working with rape survivors.

Since she couldn't authorize treatment for him as a non-guardian, she pretended to be his guardian via pretending he was her son.

A sore throat is not a medical emergency - and there are rules requiring parental consent for medical care for a reason. She screwed up.

[Texasgal]

8. This is a very sad story

but not uncommon... The medical community see's this more than is actually reported.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

10. our wealth care system should be replaced with health care

Our current system is designed to suck wealth and deliver it to insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies. It needs to be replaced with a health care system.