HARTFORD, Conn. — A Hartford-based home health agency has agreed to a large settlement to repay the state and federal governments for violating Medicaid regulations.
Connecticut U.S. Attorney William Tong and Vanessa Roberts Avery made the announcement Thursday. that house Care VNA LLC and its current and former owners Shakira Lubega and Constant Ogut have entered into civil settlement agreements with the federal and state governments.
Tonig said he will pay $361,520 to resolve allegations that payments were made for home health services that violated Medicaid regulations regarding care plans.
Home Care VNA is a home health agency with offices at 330 Main St. in Hartford.
Mr Tong said Mr Lubega is the current owner of Home Care VNA and Mr Ogut is a former co-owner. Lubega and Ogut are said to be married.
Tong said Connecticut state regulations require each patient to have a care plan as a condition of payment for home health services.
Additionally, he said, a plan of care must be signed by a qualified practitioner, must be signed within 21 days after the episode of care begins, and that a new or revised plan of care must be reviewed, amended, and signed every 60 years. said. day to day.
United States and State of Connecticut Home Care VNA, Lubega, and Ogut Submit Reimbursement Claims to Connecticut Medicaid for Home Health Services for Patients with Unsigned Care Plans or No Care Plan at All or claimed to have been caused to submit. .
Home Care VNA, Lubega and Ogutt agreed to pay $361,520 to resolve state and federal False Claims Act claims.
According to Tong, this will cover the period from August 1, 2018 to March 26, 2020.
“An approved care plan ensures that patients receive appropriate and necessary care and is covered by Medicaid. As an approved Medicaid provider, Home Care VNA understands and follows these basic rules. We will continue to work with our federal and state partners to protect investments in public health care,” Tong said in a statement Thursday, Dec. 5.
In 2022, Home Care VNA, Lubega and Ogut paid $630,000 to resolve Medicaid fraud allegations in Massachusetts.
Click this link to read the federal government's full announcement regarding the settlement.
