Owners & Employee of Newark Home Health Care Agency Charged with Submitting Nearly $1 Million in Fraudulent Medicaid Bills

December 19, 2007 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced today that three North Jersey residents and a Newark home health care agency were charged in a state grand jury indictment with fraudulently billing the Medicaid program nearly $1 million for services that were never rendered or were ineligible for Medicaid reimbursement.

According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden Brown, the state grand jury indictment handed up late yesterday charges:

* Kimberly D. Hall, aka Kim Hall, aka Kim Turner, 48, Scotch Plains. Charged with three counts of second-degree health care claims fraud, as well as one count each of second-degree conspiracy and third-degree Medicaid fraud;
* Willie T. Cureton, aka William T. Curaton, aka Willie Curation, 38, Newark. Charged with two counts of second-degree health care claims fraud, as well as one count each of second-degree conspiracy and third-degree Medicaid fraud;
* Ollie Sabrina Kimble, aka Sabrina Kimble, 42, also of Newark. Charged with health care claims fraud and conspiracy (both in the second-degree).
* Touch of Life Home Health Care Agency, LLC, doing business at 61 Chelsea Avenue, Newark. Charged with two counts each of second-degree health care claims fraud and third-degree Medicaid Fraud as well as one count of second-degree conspiracy.

The indictment alleges that between March 2003 and May 2004, the defendants submitted nearly $1 million in fraudulent bills to the Medicaid program. Hall and Cureton owned and operated Touch of Life Home Health Agency, and Kimble was an office coordinator who allegedly assisted Hall and Cureton by directing personal care assistants to fill out fraudulent time sheets.

Touch of Life provided assistance to patients, including services provided by personal care assistants and home health aids. Personal care assistants and home health aids provide day-to-day assistance to patients who are otherwise unable to care for themselves, including dressing and feeding patients, taking care of homes, assisting with the taking of medicines and related responsibilities.

The indictment charges that Touch of Life billed Medicaid for personal care assistant services which were rendered at Class C boarding homes and residential health care facilities. Medicaid regulations do not permit billing for personal care assistants and home health aides services in Class C boarding homes and residential health care facilities because such facilities are already paid for by the State for personal care services for the residents.

The indictment also alleges that Touch of Life billed the Medicaid Program for 6,946 hours of personal care assistants and related services more than were actually provided.

The indictment alleges that Hall billed the Medicaid Program for services purportedly provided by her as a personal care assistant when, in fact, her personal care assistant’s license had been revoked in November 2003. The indictment also alleges that Hall lied on her application to become a Medicaid provider.

Altogether, the defendants billed a total of 62,755 hours for services not provided or in violation of Medicaid regulations.

State Investigators Jacqueline Latty and Charles Wells, Auditor Kim Geis, and Deputy Attorneys General Riza Dagli and Linda Rinaldi were assigned to the investigation. Dagli and Rinaldi presented the case to the state grand jury

AIt is particularly disturbing when persons who hold professional licenses steal from the Medicaid program,” said Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden Brown. ANot only do they steal tax dollars, they steal funds intended to assist persons who cannot afford health insurance or health care services. Such cases are a priority for the Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor."

The indictment was handed up to Superior Court Judge Charles A. Delehey in Mercer County. The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case was assigned to Essex County, where the defendants will be ordered to appear at a later date.

Second-degree crimes carry a maximum punishment of 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of $150,000. Third-degree Medicaid fraud carries a maximum punishment of three years in state prison and a criminal fine of $10,000.

Source: New Jersey Attorney General