Medicaid Fraud Control Unit arrests three

class=” wp-image-30052 alignleft” style=”margin: 4px;” alt=”MedicaidFraud” src=”http://klax-tv.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/MedicaidFraud.jpg” width=”192″ height=”144″ />Baton Rouge–Three family members were arrested and charged with defrauding the state’s Medicaid program.

Agents with the Louisiana Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) conducted an investigation into Empowering Care Services, LLC, a personal care agency located in Zachary, based on allegations the agency was billing for numerous undocumented services, as well as engaging in hiring practices that violate the state’s Medicaid policy.  As a result of the investigation, three personal care attendants were arrested by MFCU investigators with assistance from the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Wednesday.

· Terry Lee Turner, 57, of 4007 Water Oak Drive, Zachary – 1 count of Medicaid fraud

· Connie Turner, 43, of 4007 Water Oak Drive, Zachary – 2 counts of Medicaid fraud

· Nicole Turner, 40, of 14141 Azalea Park Drive, Apt. A, Baton Rouge – 2 counts of Medicaid fraud

Terry Turner, his wife Connie, and his daughter Nicole, were each charged with presenting false claims for payment to the Louisiana Medicaid program for services that were never rendered.If convicted, they could face up to five years in prison and pay up to $20,000 in fines on each count of Medicaid fraud.

Personal care attendants are hired by Medicaid providers to care for physically handicapped Medicaid recipients. The personal care attendants keep service logs and records of hours worked with each client and submit the hours to the Medicaid provider for payment. In turn, the Medicaid provider submits the hours to the Medicaid program for payment of services rendered.

To report suspected Medicaid fraud, please contact the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at 1-888-799-6885.