Medicaid service provider owner accused of $50,000 fraud scheme

FLORIDA —The owner of a Jacksonville-based company that provides personal supports services to Medicaid recipients has been arrested and charged with Medicaid provider fraud.

On Friday, Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), with the assistance of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, announced the arrest of Sheretta Qushawn Joseph, the owner and operator of Caring Hands Supports & Services LLC, according to the announcement.

Joseph is accused of submitting claims to Medicaid for persons with disabilities for services not rendered, resulting in a loss of $50,000 to the program.

“Taking advantage of Medicaid not only harms the government program, it also rips off Florida taxpayers,” said Moody.

“This owner of a personal supports services company drastically overbilled Medicaid by more than $50,000. Thanks to our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, this owner’s scheme is over, and she will now answer for her crimes.”

According to the investigation, Joseph owned and operated Caring Hands Supports & Services LLC, a personal supports health care provider that provides assistance and training to recipients in daily living activities. In this capacity, Joseph billed Medicaid for the company’s services and paid employees for the time worked.

The investigation reportedly revealed Joseph billed Medicaid for $55,423 in services never provided to recipients, some of whom with disabilities, submitting falsified service logs in excess of the hours of service actually performed.

Investigators said they found that Joseph did not pay workers for the total hours claimed to Medicaid and intentionally received the overpayments.

Joseph faces one count of Medicaid provider fraud $50,000 or more, a first-degree felony.

Moody’s MFCU will prosecute the case through an agreement with the State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit.