Press Releases
02/22/2024
North Haven Woman Charged with Filing Fraudulent Medicaid Claims
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Rocky Hill, CT) - A North Haven woman was arrested today and charged with submitting fraudulent claims to Medicaid.
Evgjeni Baca, age 41, of North Haven, was arrested 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).
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, between February of 2019 and February of 2021, Baca was the owner of Lean on Us Homecare, LLC. Lean on Us was licensed to provide homemaker, companion, and Personal Care Assistant (PCA) services under the Connecticut Home Care Program. To become eligible to receive services for this program, applicants must be 65 years of age or older and at risk of nursing home placement. The program helps eligible clients continue living at home instead of being placed in a nursing home.
An investigation showed Lean On Us Homecare personnel files did not include completed job applications, photocopies of driver licenses, results of criminal background checks, subjects who had criminal convictions that were not revealed to clients, or proof of mandatory training for the PCA workers. PCAs are required to have training to provide high-quality, person-centered-care to safeguard the health and welfare of older and disabled adults. Baca also submitted billings for services purportedly being rendered by her that were not rendered by her or any employee of Lean on Us Homecare. Baca received $145,705.16 in payments from the Connecticut Medicaid Program by submitting the billings that contained false, deceptive and/or misleading information.
The money profited by her in the amount of $145,705.16 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 Baca contained false, incomplete, deceptive or misleading information which constitutes Health Insurance Fraud.
Baca was released on $100,000.00 surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court, G.A. No. 7, on March 7, 2024. The charges are merely accusations and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Health Insurance Fraud and Larceny in the First Degree by Defrauding a Public Community are each classified as a B Felony and punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
The case will be prosecuted by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The Unit is grateful for the assistance it received in the investigation from the State Department of Social Services - Office of Quality Assurance and the Meriden 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 $2,988,308.00 for the fiscal year of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $996,099.00 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.