A St. Paul home-care provider was found guilty of cheating Medicaid out of tens of thousands of dollars by submitting false claims, the Minnesota Department of Human Services said Wednesday.
Charles Kwadzo Sokpa-Anku, 44, who did business as Carelinks Home Care Inc., was ordered to pay $20,791 in restitution and to spend 30 days in the Ramsey County workhouse, after a jury found him guilty of three counts of defrauding Medicaid, the state and federal health insurance program for the poor.
The case is the latest in an intensified effort by state authorities to crack down on fraud in public programs. In 2013, the financial fraud section of the Department of Human Services (DHS) completed 356 investigations and referred 38 of them for prosecution, up from 254 completed investigations and 30 referred cases in 2012, state data shows.
"The punishment imposed on Mr. Sokpa-Anku should put everyone on notice that [the Department of Human Services] is serious about pursuing providers and recipients who commit fraud against our publicly funded programs," said DHS Inspector General Jerry Kerber.
State investigators performed an on-site review of Sokpa-Anku's agency after a third-party witness reported fraud. Investigators found that on more than one occasion, Carelinks billed for more than 24 hours of services in a day by a "qualified professional," such as a nurse or licensed social worker. However, the agency only had one qualified professional at the time, making it impossible to bill for more than 24 hours.
Under state law, personal care services provided to Medicaid recipients must be supervised by a qualified professional, to ensure that the care is adequate and complies with a care plan for the individual recipient.
State investigators also found that Carelinks consistently billed for services without supporting documentation. Many claims were submitted with no forms documenting that a visit had occurred on the date of service listed on the claim. The Department of Human Services concluded that Carelinks had overbilled the state by $23,729.67 for services allegedly provided in 2009 and 2010, according to a 2013 criminal complaint filed by the state attorney general's office, which prosecuted the case.
Sokpa-Anku will serve five years' probation upon release from the county jail and forfeit any employment where he can access Medicaid funds.
Chris Serres • 612-673-4308
Twitter: @chrisserres
