Waterbury Therapist Fined For False Claims: Feds

WATERBURY, CT — The operator of a children's therapy clinic will pay $39,471 to settle claims that her business violated the federal and state False Claims Act, according to federal prosecutors. Channa Sontag owns Children's Behavioral Therapy, a private behavioral health practice in Waterbury.

Federal prosecutors alleged that on numerous occasions, Sontag billed Medicaid for 60 minutes of one-on-one individual psychotherapy services when she had performed individual psychotherapy services for less time.

Sontag and Children's Behavioral Therapy will pay the penalty to reimburse Medicaid for the conduct, which occurred from 2014 to 2017.

Sontag has also agreed to a voluntary five-year suspension from the Connecticut Medicaid Program as part of the settlement, according to federal prosecutors.

This case stems from a larger investigation into fraudulent activity in the area of behavioral health services, which has been jointly conducted by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office and the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General, with support from the Connecticut Department of Social Services.

This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Thidemann, and Assistant Attorney General Karla Turekian of the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General.

People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS or the Health Care Fraud Task Force at (203) 777-6311.