Lauren Sword, a chiropractor based in Lenexa, Kansas, has had her chiropractic license revoked after being convicted for her role in a Medicare fraud scheme. The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts (KSBHA) announced on December 10, 2024, that Sword’s license to practice chiropractic care in the state has been permanently revoked, and she has been ordered to pay over $80,000 in restitution.
Sword was initially indicted in November 2022, alongside another individual, for conspiring to defraud Medicare of nearly $3 million. They were accused of paying and receiving kickbacks for the referral of Medicare beneficiary information, which was then used to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare from February to September 2019. As a result, Medicare paid out over $800,000 to two laboratories that processed the fraudulent claims.
In court, Sword pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money related to the scheme. She was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay $86,265 in restitution to Medicare. Additionally, a U.S. district judge imposed a maximum potential penalty, which could have included prison time and fines, though probation was granted in this case.
Sword, along with her co-conspirator, co-owned Senior Community Care LLC, the company that was central to the fraudulent activity. The Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that both individuals were involved in 22 counts of wire fraud, as well as charges related to money laundering and forfeiture.
The case highlights the continuing efforts by authorities to hold healthcare providers accountable for fraud and abuse of government programs like Medicare.
