Despite the close relationship between home health aides and patients, there are no federal laws or regulations requiring that home health agencies (HHAs) conduct background checks on their employees — a liability for the agency and a risk to the client. In fact, a recent review by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that […]
OIG
Home health care aides accounted for more criminal convictions in fiscal year 2014 than any other provider type investigated and prosecuted by Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs) throughout the United States. Out of 1,318 criminal convictions in 2014, 30% involved home health care aides, according to the recently released annual report on MFCU activity from […]
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has released its work plan for 2015, addressing various issues relating to home health care and hospice. Among the topics addressed are the home health prospective payment system, fraud, health screening, hospice patients’ length of stay in assisted living facilities and the appropriateness of hospices’ general inpatient care […]
The owner and operator of a Miami, Fla., home health care company was sentenced to more than six years in prison Monday for her alleged participation in a $6.5 million Medicare fraud scheme, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced. Cruz Sonia Collado, 64, was an owner and operator of the now-defunct home health care […]
The third wave of a home care-related Medicaid fraud scheme that originated in Illinois has resulted in 14 more indictments, bringing the total number of defendants involved to 43, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Last week’s indictments constitute the third round of charges stemming from Operation Home Alone, an initiative led by […]
Vetting home health care workers—via background checks or fingerprinting—has been an area of consideration for federal regulators in recent months, but a new report reveals not all states have practices in place to screen these employees. Of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, only 41 states require home health agencies to conduct background […]
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