Woman Sentenced For Filing $25K In False Medicaid Claims

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A 60-year-old Howard County woman has been convicted and sentenced for submitting more than $25,000 worth of false claims relating to home healthcare services.

Falguni Patel falsely claimed to be providing home healthcare services while she worked at another job or was out of the country. HomeCentris Healthcare, LLC, previously known as Personal Health Care, Inc., relied on Patel’s statements when submitting claims to Maryland Medicaid.

On Aug. 3, Patel pleaded guilty to felony public health fraud. Judge Garret P. Glennon, Jr. of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County sentenced Patel to five years, suspending all but time served, with three years of supervised probation, and to pay restitution of $25,310.51.

“Every fraudulent Medicaid claim drains resources from Marylanders who rely on home healthcare to live safely and with dignity,” said Attorney General Anthony G. Brown. “My office will continue rooting out fraud that exploits this vital program and the people who depend on it.”