North Haven Woman Received $145K In False Medicaid Claims: Officials

NORTH HAVEN, CT — A North Haven woman is accused of receiving more than $145,000 by submitting fraudulent claims to Medicaid through her home care business, according to officials.

Evgjeni Baca, 41, was arrested Thursday by Inspectors from the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney and charged with one count of health insurance fraud and first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Baca was the owner of Lean on Us Homecare, LLC between February 2019 and February 2021.

Lean on Us was licensed to provide homemaker, companion, and Personal Care Assistant (PCA) services under the Connecticut Home Care Program. To become eligible to receive services for this program, applicants must be 65 years of age or older and at risk of nursing home placement.

The program helps eligible clients continue living at home instead of being placed in a nursing home.

“An investigation showed Lean On Us Homecare personnel files did not include completed job applications, photocopies of driver licenses, results of criminal background checks, subjects who had criminal convictions that were not revealed to clients, or proof of mandatory training for the PCA workers,” according to a news release from the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice. “PCAs are required to have training to provide high-quality, person-centered-care to safeguard the health and welfare of older and disabled adults.

“Baca also submitted billings for services purportedly being rendered by her that were not rendered by her or any employee of Lean on Us Homecare. Baca received $145,705.16 in payments from the Connecticut Medicaid Program by submitting the billings that contained false, deceptive and/or misleading information.”

Baca was released after posting a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on March 7.

“The charges are merely accusations and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty,” officials wrote in the news release. “Health Insurance Fraud and Larceny in the First Degree by Defrauding a Public Community are each classified as a B Felony and punishable by up to 20 years in prison.”

Anyone with knowledge of suspected fraud or abuse in the public healthcare system is asked to contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney at 860-258-5986.