Ex-nursing home operator who defrauded Medicaid sentenced to 12 years in prision

The former operator of a Massachusetts homecare agency was sentenced to 12 years in prison for defrauding Medicaid of more than $100 million, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said.

Faith Newton, the former operator of Arbor Homecare Services, and others at the agency engaged in a “massive conspiracy” to bill Medicaid from 2013-17 for services that were never provided, the DOJ said in an indictment.

Newton told others at Arbor to fabricate nurse notes to be submitted with the bills to Medicaid. Newton and Arbor would “flood” doctor offices with requests to sign fake plans of care for patients that called for them to get care at home from Arbor, the DOJ said. Newton also assisted with a kickback scheme, in which Arbor paid doctors and others for referring patients to the company, whether or not the patients really needed at-home care.