Fairfield Woman Gets Prison Time For Health Care Fraud

FAIRFIELD, CT — A Fairfield woman was sentenced Friday to more than two years behind bars after she lied about her qualifications as a medical practitioner, according to the U.S. Attorney of the District of Connecticut.

Jessica Stuart, 38, must serve 27 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after she pleaded guilty in June to health care fraud and using false identification, a news release from the U.S. Attorney said.

Stuart was employed by Helping Hands Academy LLC in Bridgeport, which provided
applied behavior analysis services to children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, according to the news release. Stuart does not have a college degree, was not a board-certified behavior analyst or licensed medical practitioner, and did not have any formal training in applied behavior analysis for autism spectrum disorder.

However, between about May 2019 and September 2020, Helping Hands Academy paid Stuart at least $146,0000 and submitted to Medicaid fraudulent claims for applied behavioral analysis services that Stuart performed but was not qualified to provide, the news release said. Stuart caused Medicaid to pay out on over 1,900 fraudulent claims related to 12 children with autism spectrum disorder.

“Stuart stole the professional identity of a legitimate BCBA so she could impersonate a BCBA and make a BCBA’s salary,” according to the news release.

Medicaid suffered a loss of more than $339,000 as a result of Stuart’s conduct, the news release said, adding she was ordered to make full restitution.

The investigation also revealed that Stuart used fraudulent or fabricated documents, or forged signatures, in other areas of her life.

She is required to report to prison Dec. 3.

In April, Nicole Balkas, the owner of Helping Hands Academy, pleaded guilty to health care fraud. She awaits sentencing.

People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-447-8477.