A Springfield, Mo., insurance broker pleaded guilty to 12 felony counts related to Medicaid fraud after misappropriating more than $700,000 from the program.

Kevin Wayne Louderback provided applications with false information to Missouri HIPP, a Medicaid program that pays for the private health insurance premiums of those with high medical costs, according to the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.

Louderback stated that the monthly insurance premium rates were greater than they were, pocketing the overpayment. He also offered a kickback to people to encourage them to enroll in an insurance program, fraudulently misstated an insurance company’s rate and then forged documents to set out the false rate, according to officials.

Louderback pleaded guilty to five counts of Medicaid fraud, four counts of insurance fraud, two forgery counts and a count of offering a kickback to receive a Medicaid payment.

In December 2000, Louderback pleaded guilty in Laclede County, Mo., to the felony count of passing a bad check and in June 2004, pleaded guilty to a felony count of stealing in Greene County, Mo. The attorney general’s office said that as a “prior and persistent offender,” Louderback could be sentenced to an extended prison term.

He faces sentencing Feb. 26.

In a statement, Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster said one of his top priorities is prosecuting those cheating the state’s Medicaid system.

“This kind of fraudulent conduct steals health-care resources that would otherwise be directed to truly needy Missourians,” he said. “We will continue to dedicate our resources to root out health-care fraud in our state.”