TESTIMONY IS EXPECTED TO GET UNDERWAY TODAY IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT IN GREENEVILLE IN THE TRIAL OF A FORMER WASHINGTON COUNTY TENNESSEE NURSING HOME OWNER ACCUSED OF DEFRAUDING MEDICAID OUT OF MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS. BILLIE ANDERSON IS CHARGED WITH OBTAINING MEDICAID PAYMENTS BY FRAUD. THE CHARGES STEM FROM AN INVESTIGATION THAT ALLEGEDLY FOUND ANDERSON HAD BEEN FILING PAYMENT CLAIMS FOR PATIENTS BETWEEN JULY 2002 AND JANUARY 2003 WHILE CONCEALING THE FACT THE NURSING HOME HAD NO MEDICAL DIRECTOR ON STAFF. THIS IS BOTH A STATE AND FEDERAL REQUIREMENT FOR SUCH FACILITIES. IN ADDITION, ANDERSON’S NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR’S LICENSE WERE SUSPENDED IN JANUARY 2003 DUE TO SEVERAL CONDITIONS THAT PLACED NURSING HOME PATIENTS AT RISK OF HARM. THE TRIAL IS SET TO GET UNDERWAY THIS MORNING AT NINE O’CLOCK.