Attorney General Ashley Moody of Florida has announced the arrest of Sheretta Qushawn Joseph, the owner of a company providing personal support services to Medicaid recipients. Joseph is accused of submitting claims to Medicaid for services not rendered, resulting in a loss of over $50,000 to the program. The arrest was made by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, with the assistance of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
In a statement, Attorney General Moody emphasized the detrimental impact of taking advantage of Medicaid, stating, "Taking advantage of Medicaid not only harms the government program, it also rips off Florida taxpayers." She further explained that Joseph, as the owner of a personal support services company, had overbilled Medicaid by more than $50,000. However, thanks to the diligent work of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Joseph's scheme has come to an end, and she will now face the consequences of her crimes.
The investigation revealed that Joseph owned and operated Caring Hands Supports & Services LLC, a healthcare provider offering assistance and training to Medicaid recipients in daily-living activities. She would bill Medicaid for services provided by the company and pay employees for their work. However, it was discovered that Joseph had billed Medicaid for $55,423 in services that were never provided to recipients, including individuals with disabilities. She submitted falsified service logs, claiming hours of service that were not actually performed. Investigators found evidence, including witness accounts, incomplete documentation, and bank records, showing that Joseph did not pay workers for the total hours claimed to Medicaid and intentionally received overpayments.
As a result of her actions, Joseph now faces one count of Medicaid provider fraud amounting to $50,000 or more, which is a first-degree felony. The case will be prosecuted by Attorney General Moody's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit through an agreement with the State Attorney's Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit.
The Florida Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is responsible for investigating and prosecuting providers who intentionally defraud the state's Medicaid program through fraudulent billing practices. In addition to financial losses for the program, Medicaid fraud essentially steals from Florida taxpayers. The unit also investigates allegations of patient abuse, neglect, and exploitation in facilities receiving payments under the Medicaid program.
The Florida Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is funded through a grant of $29,707,695 for Federal Fiscal Year 2024 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General. The grant consists of a federal share of 75%, totaling $22,280,772, and a state matching share of 25%, totaling $7,426,923, funded by Florida.
This arrest highlights the commitment of the Florida Attorney General's Office to combat fraud and protect the integrity of the Medicaid program.
For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/ag-moody-announces-arrest-services-provider-more-50000-medicaid-provider-fraud