DSHS Urges Mount Pleasant Clinic Clients to Be Aware of Possible Fraud

News Release
January 11, 2013

In coordination with law enforcement, the Texas Department of State Health Services is investigating the actions of a former DSHS Mount Pleasant clinic employee who is alleged to have fraudulently used credit card and other personal information from local clients and colleagues to make recent purchases.

Several hundred people have been identified so far as possible victims. DSHS will be notifying those people as soon as possible, though the list of potential victims may be incomplete. It is unclear whether the matter involves only recent patients, or whether older records were accessed. There is no indication at this time that clients receiving DSHS services in other parts of the state were affected.

The Titus County Sheriff’s Office arrested the former DSHS employee, Selena Patino, Jan. 4 on fraud and credit card abuse charges. Patino had been working in the DSHS Mt. Pleasant clinic since 2008 before becoming employed by the Northeast Texas Public Health District in October 2012. She was terminated by NET Health Jan. 3, 2013.

DSHS is reviewing Patino’s alleged fraudulent use of credit card and personal information and is cooperating with the Texas Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and local law enforcement.

People who received services at the clinic and believe they may be the victims of identity theft are urged to contact the credit bureaus to review their histories and evaluate whether a fraud alert or credit monitoring is warranted. They also can contact DSHS at 1-800-350-6029 for information.

The credit bureaus can be contacted as follows:

The DSHS Mount Pleasant clinic, located at 1014 North Jefferson, offers immunization and social work services, tuberculosis management and other public health services.

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(News Media Contact: Carrie Williams, Director of Media Relations, 512-776-7119)

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