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U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly and Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen announced Thursday the settlement with Family Care Visiting Nurse and Home Care Agency LLC and its owners, David A. Krett and Rita C. Krett, which stems from allegations that they violated the federal and state False Claims Acts.
Family Care VNA has offices in Stratford, Woodbridge, Norwalk and Meriden, and provides home health services in Fairfield, New Haven, Hartford and Middlesex counties.
“Home health care providers and other providers who fraudulently bill the Medicaid program drive up the cost of health care for all of us,” said Daly. “The U.S. Attorney’s office is committed to working with our state counterparts to vigorously pursue health care providers that submit fraudulent claims to government health care programs.”
The allegations against Family Care VNA involve fraudulent billing to Medicaid for certain home health services. The services included 60-day assessments, which are required to be conducted by registered nurses but were not. Additionally, officials allege that Family Care VNA, with the knowledge of its owners, submitted claims to Medicaid for patients who were or may have been dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, without first following required procedures for submitting claims to Medicare.
To settle the allegations, Family Care VNA, David Krett and Rita Krett have paid $5,253,908.54, covering Jan. 1, 2009-April 30, 2016. Family Care VNA and the Kretts also have entered into a corporate integrity agreement with the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Anyone who suspects health care fraud can report it to the Health Care Fraud Task Force by calling (203) 785-9270 or 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
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