Home Health Aide Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud
| U.S. Attorney’s Office August 28, 2012 |
COLUMBUS—Demantria “Mindy” Hunt, 47, Dayton, a home health aide who worked for several home health service companies, pleaded guilty to turning in false time sheets that resulted in billing the Ohio Medicaid Program $221,234.22 between 2008 and 2011 for home health services that were never delivered.
Carter M. Stewart, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine; Edward Hanko, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cincinnati Field Division (FBI); and Lamont Pugh, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS), announced the plea entered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Preston Deavers.
According to a statement of facts presented during the hearing, Hunt worked as a home health care aide for various home care agencies. She admitted to fabricating her time sheets for at least 13 patients, indicating that she provided home care services to these individuals in their homes, when, in fact, she provided little, if any, services on all the days documented. Hunt provided some patients monetary incentives to allow their Medicaid numbers to continue to be billed, even though no services were rendered.
Hunt turned in fabricated timesheets to her employers, specifically: Capital Home Health Care, Central Ohio Elderly Care, Diversity Home Health Care, Continental Home Health Care, Damal Home Care Services, and Serenity Home Health Care, who, based upon the false information indicated on the forms, submitted claims to the Ohio Medicaid Program.
Hunt pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements in health care matters, a crime that is punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and three years of supervised release. Magistrate Judge Preston Deavers will schedule a date for sentencing.
“Individuals or health care company employees who suspect fraud against government health insurance programs can report them anonymously online at www.stopmedicarefraud.gov or by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477),” Stewart said.
People can also report suspected Medicaid fraud to Attorney General DeWine’s office by calling 1-800-282-0515 or visiting www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Affeldt. The investigation was conducted by special agents of the FBI, HHS-OIG, and the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.