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In a tragic situation that is becoming disturbingly frequent, federal prosecutors have charged the owner of an in-home care company in West Virginia with numerous accusations of fraud. There are two main charges: first, the company falsified documents that it submitted to the Medicaid and Medicare programs for reimbursement. Even worse, the company knowingly hired convicted felons with little or no caregiving experience to work with seniors in their homes.
Policies Betrayed the Trust of Seniors
According to the federal charges, Golden Heart In Home Care, a home care company operating in West Virginia, hired caregivers who were ex-convicts, then falsely claimed on documents that all workers had completed the training and experience that they needed to legally work as in-home caregivers. In Escondido, the same kind of scam could occur, and family members should always do thorough research on the company they choose to partner with in caring for aging parents.
Certification and membership in respected associations are good indicators that an in home care provider company is trustworthy. In California, there are two certification organizations for home care companies, known as CAHSAH and ABHC. A Servant’s Heart Care Solutions is certified by CAHSAH, whose standards are more strict and more relevant.
Medicaid and Medicare Fraud
Companies like Golden Heart get reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare when they care for qualified individuals. However, those programs will only reimburse companies if they follow certain hiring and training guidelines–this ensures that the programs pay for effective service. In this case, Golden Heart and its director committed fraud not only by lying about its employees’ qualifications, but also by submitting reports of expenses that did not even take place.
Finding Great In-Home Caregivers In Escondido
Whether they knew it or not, many vulnerable West Virginia seniors were in a dangerous situation when Golden Heart employees were in charge of their care. The fact that many of the employees were convicted felons is problem enough, but the lack of training and experience that they had meant that they were not prepared to deal with emergencies.
When choosing in-home caregivers in San Diego County, take the time to inquire about the company’s requirements for their carerivers’ education, practical experience and knowledge, and clear criminal background. A well-qualified caregiver should have has no problem at all meeting high standards but many home care companies cut corners when they are short-handed.
You can read the original article on the West Virginia Gazette’s website.
