DES MOINES, Iowa – A Maine woman is expected to make her initial appearance on charges that she filed $26,000 in false claims with the Iowa Medicaid program.

Cindy Lou Worthen is ordered to appear Thursday at the federal courthouse in Bangor to be arraigned by video teleconference by court officials in Des Moines.

Worthen had been ordered to appear in person, but she didn’t show for an earlier hearing. A magistrate said Worthen had difficulty making travel arrangements and worked out the long-distance plan rather than issue an arrest warrant as prosecutors requested.

An indictment alleges that Worthen filed 25 claims with Iowa Medicaid for home health care services that she didn’t perform. It says the services were performed by another provider who was barred from the program because of her criminal history.