October 2, 2019
Carson City, NV – Today, Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford announced that Stephany Wright, 47, of Las Vegas, and Day and Night Behavioral, LLC (Day and Night) were sentenced in a Medicaid fraud case involving false billing. The fraud occurred between April 2017 and February 2018.
Eighth Judicial District Court Judge Jacqueline Bluth sentenced both defendants for Submitting False Claims, a category “D” felony. Wright was sentenced to 12 to 48 months in prison, suspended and placed on probation for three years. She was also ordered to perform 40 hours of community service. As part of the sentence, Wright and Day and Night were also ordered to pay over $142,000 in restitution. Individuals or businesses convicted of Medicaid fraud may also be administratively excluded from future Medicaid and Medicare participation.
“Those charged with providing critical health care services to Nevadans must be held accountable for their actions,” said AG Ford. “I’m proud of the work of my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit that continues to look out for the health and safety of individuals in our communities.”
The investigation began after the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) received information that Day And Night and its owner Stephany Wright may have billed Nevada Medicaid for Rehabilitative Mental Health (RMH) services in excess of the total number of hours in any given month and/or billed Medicaid for services not rendered. The investigation revealed that Wright, as the owner and service provider of Day and Night, submitted claims to Nevada Medicaid for purportedly providing RMH services in excess of 24 hours a day on numerous days over an 81-day period.
The MFCU investigates and prosecutes financial fraud by those providing health care services or goods to Medicaid patients. The MFCU also investigates and prosecutes instances of elder abuse or neglect. Persons convicted of Medicaid fraud may also be administratively excluded from future Medicaid and Medicare participation. Anyone wishing to report suspicions regarding any of these concerns may contact the MFCU at 702-486-3420 or 775-684-1100.
This case was investigated by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and was prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Steve Sidhu.
To view the criminal Information against Stephany Wright and Day and Night, click on their respective links. To file a complaint with the Office of the Nevada Attorney General, click here.
WRIGHT, STEPHANY
(Photograph courtesy of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)
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