Legal · IA
Iowa Therapist Retains License Despite Fraud and Theft Convictions
The Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals allowed Michelle Raye Stewart-Sandusky, a state-licensed marital and family therapist, to retain her license despite January 2026 convictions for business-related theft, fraud, and forgery. The board had charged her with offenses directly related to professional duties and responsibilities. The decision appears final as of August 2026. The case affects Medicaid provider enrollment standards and credentialing requirements for behavioral health professionals in managed care networks.
Why it mattersState licensing board decisions on fraud convictions affect MCO and state agency provider credentialing, enrollment, and exclusion processes under federal program integrity requirements.