Response to Kansas Medicaid suit alleges extortion

TOPEKA – A company managing part of the Medicaid program in Kansas and its parent company allege in court documents that a former executive tried to “extort” $3 million from them after being fired.

Sunflower State Health Plan and parent Centene Corporation made the allegations Monday in response to a federal lawsuit filed in October by former Sunflower Vice President Jacqueline Leary.

Leary alleges in her lawsuit that she was wrongfully fired in January after protesting potentially improper cost-cutting moves for the Kansas Medicaid program.

Sunflower and Centene said Leary demanded $3 million from them in February. Leary attorney Lewis Galloway did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.

Medicaid covers health services for the poor and disabled.

Kansas turned its administration over to three private companies, including Sunflower.

This story was originally published December 29, 2014 at 4:03 PM with the headline "Response to Kansas Medicaid suit alleges extortion."