FLORIDA—A behavior technician is accused of Medicaid fraud by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.
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Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) on Friday announced the arrest of Greter Brito Acosta, a registered behavior technician. According to an investigation by the MFCU and the Hialeah Police Department, Acosta defrauded the Florida Medicaid program out of more than $119,000 by falsifying documentation and receiving money for services not rendered.
“This defendant falsified service records and billed for services not provided to steal more than $100,000 from taxpayers,” said Moody.
“My Medicaid Fraud Control Unit put an end to this scheme, and now the defendant will have to answer for her crimes.”
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According to the MFCU, Acosta claimed to provide care for two minors who received Medicaid. Allegedly, instead of providing the registered behavior technician services though, Acosta would visit the homes of the recipients, log in via a cellphone application to verify the visit, turn off the GPS function of the cellphone, and leave.
Hours later, Acosta is alleged to have returned to the residence, turned the GPS function of the cellphone back on, and logged out of the application, making it appear as though the defendant stayed at the residence for hours, the MFCU said.
Acosta bribed the recipient’s parents with monetary kickbacks to go along with the falsified documentation, progress reports, and more, the MFCU has alleged.
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According to the MFCU, its investigation also reportedly revealed that Acosta originally paid someone to fraudulently take the defendant’s registered behavior technician certification exam.
Acosta is charged with one count of Medicaid fraud, a first-degree felony.
The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office will prosecute this case.
