A Lynden optician has been accused of incorrectly billing the Department of Social and Health Services and charging too much for Medicaid services and must repay the agency nearly $51,000.

As a result, Lisa D. Creighton also has been charged with unprofessional conduct by the state Dispensing Optician Program, the state Department of Health announced Tuesday, Sept. 11.

She couldn't be reached for comment this week.

An optician makes and fits glasses based on prescriptions from optometrists and ophthalmologists.

The incidents were uncovered during a DSHS audit of the services Creighton provided to the agency.

The audit covered Dec. 1, 2005, through Sept. 30, 2009.

State regulators alleged that:

• Creighton didn't provide adequate documentation to support the services she billed DSHS for in 34 instances.

• She exceeded the benefit limits allowed by DSHS for certain services and erroneously billed the agency 2,182 times.

• As a result, DSHS told Creighton she had to pay back $50,989. As of June 6, she still owed the agency $50,124.

Creighton didn't contest the audit findings, according to the state Department of Health.

Her Medicaid contract has been canceled, and her optician license expires Sept. 20.

Reach KIE RELYEA at kie.relyea@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2234.