Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and William Tong, Connecticut Attorney General, have announced a settlement involving Home Care VNA LLC and its owners. The company and its current owner Shakira Lubega, along with former owner Constant Ogutt, will pay $361,520 to resolve allegations related to Medicaid claims.
Home Care VNA operates as a home health agency from Hartford. Lubega is the current owner while Ogutt previously held part ownership. Both are married.
Connecticut State regulations mandate that payment for home health care services requires each patient to have a plan of care signed by a licensed practitioner within 21 days of starting care. Additionally, these plans must be reviewed and signed every 60 days.
The authorities allege that Home Care VNA submitted claims for patients who either had unsigned plans or no plans at all. The settlement covers the period from August 1, 2018, to March 26, 2020.
The investigation was conducted by the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Molot and Assistant Attorney General Joshua Jackson are prosecuting the case.
Previously in 2022, Home Care VNA along with Lubega and Ogutt settled similar allegations in Massachusetts for $630,000.
Individuals suspecting health care fraud are encouraged to report it via 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
