Union Home Health Care Services, LLC (Union), a Worcester-based adult foster care (GAFC) firm, has been indicted in a substantial fraud case. Authorities accuse the company of defrauding the Massachusetts Medicaid program, MassHealth, for over $1.6 million according to the Attorney General's Office press release. The company's managers, Bernice Codjia, 39, and Augustus Kormah, 66, also of Worcester, were arrested on Wednesday.

MassHealth's GAFC program aims to enable the elderly and disabled to live independently by assisting in daily life activities like eating, bathing, and housekeeping. Registered nurses assess eligibility for such services, and the assessments are then often submitted to MassHealth for approval.

The Attorney General's office charges that Union and former manager Codjia used fraudulent nursing assessments and forms. Thus, signing up MassHealth members and billing for unauthorized GAFC services. Moreover, Union allegedly billed MassHealth for non-rendered services, some supposedly provided by different providers in inpatient facilities.

The Massachusetts Medicaid Fraud Division overseeing this case is federally and locally funded. 75 percent is from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts funding the remaining 25 percent as mentioned in the press release.

Union, Codjia, and Kormah face strict constraints as a part of their indictment. They have been ordered to surrender their passports and are prohibited from any travel outside the state or internationally, as well as from billing or supervising MassHealth. Further, they are barred from owning or holding management positions in any MassHealth provider and are required to stay away from former Union employees and MassHealth members enrolled at Union.