South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Lauren Makenzie Welborn, a 29-year-old Greenville resident, on charges related to Medicaid fraud. Welborn faces one count of Obtaining Property or Signature Under False Pretenses, valued at $10,000 or more, and one count of Medical Assistance Provider Fraud. She was detained at the Greenville County Detention Center on June 13, 2025.
The Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF) conducted an investigation revealing that between August 7, 2023, and September 12, 2024, Welborn allegedly submitted false claims to the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. These claims involved fraudulent data sheets and electronic clinician notes while she worked as an Early Interventionist at PlayWorks, LLC. The fraudulent activities reportedly led to losses amounting to $11,442.01 for the Medicaid program.
PlayWorks, LLC played a significant role in uncovering the misconduct by reporting it to VAMPF and cooperating with the investigation. Attorney General Wilson praised their integrity: “Providers that operate with integrity play a valuable role in ensuring the efficient operation of the Medicaid program; this is an example of a business being a prudent steward of taxpayer dollars and working with my office to hold bad actors accountable.”
The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute the case. If convicted for Obtaining Property or Signature Under False Pretenses, Welborn could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine determined by the court. For Medical Assistance Provider Fraud, she could face up to three years in prison and a fine up to $1,000.
VAMPF holds authority over cases involving Medicaid provider fraud as well as abuse and neglect issues concerning Medicaid beneficiaries and residents in assisted living facilities or nursing homes.
Attorney General Wilson emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Funding for VAMPF comes from both federal and state sources. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides 75 percent through a grant totaling $2,889,252 for fiscal year 2025. The remaining funding is provided by South Carolina.
