HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) — Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen announced Jan. 12 that Family Care Visiting Nurse and Home Care Agency LLC (FCVNA) and owners David and Rita Krett have agreed to a $5.25 million settlement after allegations of submitting false claims to the state’s Medicaid program.
"Medicaid providers who choose to participate in the CMAP have a responsibility to ensure that they are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and are truthful when they submit claims for payment for services to the Medicaid program," Jepsen said. "We will continue to work to hold accountable those who seek to defraud our taxpayer-funded healthcare programs.”
According to Jepsen’s office, FCVNA knowingly failed to comply with federal and state Medicaid home health care provider requirements between January 2009 and April 2016. Requirements mandate that home health providers assign a registered nurse to conduct initial in-person assessments of a patient’s needs. The nurse must conduct a new assessment every 60 days afterward. FCVNA allegedly billed Medicaid for nurse visits that never occurred.
"This major investigation and settlement further indicate the need for strong financial oversight in our public medical assistance programs,” Department of Social Services Commissioner Roderick L. Bremby said. “I thank Attorney General Jepsen and his staff, as well as our other state and federal partners, for their outstanding work to safeguard fiscal integrity and protect taxpayer interests. I am also pleased to note that the investigation was based on a fraud referral following a regular audit by DSS quality assurance staff."