(Rocky Hill, CT) - A New Haven woman has been arrested and charged with stealing from the Medicaid program.
Vartaysha Reed, age 26, of New Haven, was arrested on March 18, 2026 by Inspectors from the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney and charged with one count of Health Insurance Fraud, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53-442 and one count of Larceny in the First Degree by Defrauding a Public Community, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-122(a)(3).
An investigation by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit found that Reed, who was employed as a Personal Care Assistant (PCA), submitted timesheets and was paid for services she did not provide. The PCA program is a Medicaid funded program which provides recipients who have permanent, severe, and chronic disabilities, funds to hire PCAs to physically assist them with daily self-care activities that enable them to reside in their homes and remain in the community. From May 24, 2024 through December 13, 2024, Reed was submitting time sheets claiming she was providing services to the recipient in their home, however, the investigation revealed that at various times within this period, the recipient was hospitalized and/or out of state. Reed also continued to bill Medicaid for months after the recipient’s death. Reed was paid $64,954.09 for the fraudulent claims.
The money profited by her in the amount of $64,954.09 constitutes the crime of Larceny in the First Degree by Defrauding a Public Community. The submission of claims to the Department of Social Services provided by Reed contained false, incomplete, deceptive, or misleading information which constitutes Health Insurance Fraud. Reed was released on a $50,000.00 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in New Haven Superior Court, on March 25, 2026. The charges are merely accusations, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Larceny in the First Degree by Defrauding a Public Community and Health Insurance Fraud, are classified as B felonies and punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
The case was investigated and will be prosecuted by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The Unit is grateful for the assistance of the State Department of Social Services - Office of Quality Assurance and the Newington Police Department.
The Connecticut Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $2,612,588 for the fiscal year of October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $870,858 for the same fiscal year, is funded by the State of Connecticut.
Anyone with knowledge of suspected fraud or abuse in the public healthcare system is asked to contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney at (860) 258-5986.