Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield was bilked out of more than $16,000 by a Bellmawr, N.J., woman who allegedly called in at least 285 phony prescriptions for herself and her family members while employed at several doctors’ offices.

Roberta Wells, 39, was charged with second-degree health care claims fraud, third-degree theft by deception, third-degree obtaining a controlled dangerous substance by fraud, and fourth-degree obtaining prescription legend drugs by fraud, according to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.

Wells was indicted May 13 for allegedly providing false and misleading information to several pharmacies between Jan. 19, 2005, and June 9, 2008, leading to her receiving nearly the prescriptions to which she was not entitled, prosecutors said.

Wells allegedly caused the pharmacies to fraudulently bill Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield for controlled dangerous substances and for legend drugs totaling more than $13,000. In addition, she allegedly received $3,950 in prescription benefits from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield.

The New Jersey Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor determined that on more than 285 separate occasions, medicines were dispensed in Wells’ name or the name of her husband or children, without legitimate medical authorization.