November 14, 2013
Las Vegas, NV – Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto announced that Yolanda Rodriguez, 53, of Las Vegas, was sentenced today in a Medicaid fraud case involving the failure to maintain adequate records to support Medicaid claims.
“Protection of these home health services are important to ensure citizens of the community are receiving the care they require,” said Masto. “Prosecution and conviction of these crimes helps deter fraud and the restitution helps to return much needed funds into the Medicaid system."
Rodriguez was sentenced for one gross misdemeanor offense of intentional failure to maintain adequate records by District Court Judge Douglas Herndon. Herndon sentenced Rodriguez to 150 days, suspended, performance of 100 hours of community service and payment of $3,682 in restitution, penalties, and costs.
The Nevada Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) conducted the investigation and prosecution. The investigation revealed that Rodriguez was employed as a Personal Care Assistant (PCA) for a home health care agency. While employed as a PCA, Rodriguez had submitted timesheets for services alleged provided to a Medicaid recipient for home health care services. The timesheets were then relied upon by the agency to submit Medicaid claims. The investigation showed that the services Rodriguez claimed to have provided occurred during time periods that the recipient was hospitalized and therefore unable to receive home health services.
The fraud occurred from November 2010 and September 2011.
Medicaid has a personal care assistant program to keep people living independently in their own homes by providing basic services, including bathing, dressing, cleaning and meal preparation. Persons convicted of Medicaid fraud may also be administratively excluded from future Medicaid and Medicare participation.
The case was investigated and prosecuted by the MFCU, which investigates and prosecutes financial fraud by those providing healthcare services or goods to Medicaid patients. The MFCU also investigates and prosecutes instances of elder abuse or neglect. Anyone wishing to report suspicions regarding any of these concerns may contact the MFCU at 702-486-3420 or 775-684-1100.
The case was prosecuted by Andrew Schulke, Senior Deputy Attorney General.
Read the criminal information here.
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(Photos courtesy of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)
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