Oregon's Department of Justice has effectively placed a private care agency under probation following a case of Medicaid fraud. Rever Grand, Inc., which provides support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, entered a no-contest plea to one count of Making a False Claim for Health Care Payment, as announced by Attorney General Dan Rayfield. "This resolution strikes the right balance between accountability and protecting the Oregonians who rely on these critical care services," Rayfield stated, ensuring that the company will continue to effectively deliver necessary support services under heightened supervision.
The probation period will span four years, during which Rever Grand will need to strictly adhere to an independent monitoring agreement. During the Monday court session, a second count of Making a False Claim for Health Care Payment was dismissed by the court. Oregon law permits the court to then close the case without a finding of guilt after successful completion of the probation and adherence to the monitoring agreement. This resolution aims to allow the company, which has operated under new ownership since January 2025, to maintain its vital services for over a thousand Oregonians while holding it accountable.
Rever Grand, with its base in Grants Pass, employs Direct Support Professionals across Oregon, offering community support. Last year, co-founders Ray Parenteau and his wife, Jolene Sesso, were indicted for allegedly funneling Medicaid funds to themselves through the company. They face charges including Racketeering, Making a False Claim for Health Care Payment, Aggravated Theft, Money Laundering, and Tax Evasion, with the prosecution still underway. The monitoring of Rever Grand will be conducted by a third-party company, financed by Rever Grand itself, to ensure the agency operates with integrity.
"By requiring independent monitoring, we're ensuring that this company operates with integrity and that taxpayer dollars are spent the way they should be—supporting the people who need care, not those who abuse the system," Rayfield emphasized. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFU), responsible for investigating and prosecuting Medicaid billing fraud and health care provider abuse or neglect, has in the past decade secured over 250 criminal convictions and recovered upwards of $90 million. The MFU's total funding was $4,602,858 for the latest federal fiscal year, of which 75% came from a grant from the U.S. Department of Human Services, according to the Oregon DOJ.
