As detailed in the Attorney General's statement below, a registered nurse in New York was arrested for for allegedly submitting over $390,000 of false claims over the course of nearly five years for private-duty nursing services that he did not provide.
As the elderly population continues to grow rapidly, business for nurses, nursing home operators, assisted living homes, and home health care companies is increasing, and so are the profits. Unfortunately, this does not equate to improvements in the care provided, and can lead to false claims and alleged fraud as in this matter.
Preventable injuries in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and under the care of home care providers continue to occur at an alarming rate. Given that background, Leitner Varughese commends the recent actions of the New York State Attorney General in taking a stand against abuse and neglect of our elderly nursing home population.
The attorneys at Leitner Varughese are among New York’s most recognized and respected leaders in the area of nursing home abuse and negligence litigation. Both in and out of the courtroom, our attorneys are leading the charge to establish an environment where substandard care will not be tolerated.
Neglect and abuse come in many different forms. Know some of the major signs:
Bedsores (also known as pressure ulcers)
Falls (resulting in serious injury)
Malnutrition
Dehydration
Choking Incidents
Medication Errors
Loss of dignity
Wrongful death
If you believe that a loved one may have been the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse in New York, please call Leitner Varughese at (212) 671-1110 or (855) LV LAW NY for a free consultation, or visit us at www.lvlawny.com.
News from Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 26, 2017
New York City Press Office / 212-416-8060 Albany Press Office / 518-776-2427 nyag.pressoffice@ag.ny.gov Twitter: @AGSchneiderman
A.G. SCHNEIDERMAN ANNOUNCES ARREST OF REGISTERED NURSE FOR ALLEGEDLY DEFRAUDING MEDICAID
Private-Duty Nurse Collins Anyanwu-Mueller Fraudulently Billed Medicaid For Over $390,000 Of False Claims For Severely Disabled Patients
Schneiderman: Those Who Steal From Medicaid Will Be Prosecuted To The Fullest Extent Of The Law
NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the arrest and indictment of registered nurse Collins Anyanwu-Mueller, 47, for allegedly submitting over $390,000 of false claims over the course of nearly five years for private-duty nursing services that he did not provide.
“When healthcare professionals steal public funds, they undermine an important system that connects thousands of New Yorkers with necessary medical services,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “My office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit will continue to investigate cases involving fraud – and those who steal from Medicaid will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Anyanwu-Mueller was arraigned today in Westchester County Court in White Plains before the Honorable Larry J. Schwartz on an indictment charging him with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony carrying a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in state prison, and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony that carries a maximum sentence of up to four years in state prison. If convicted, Anyanwu-Mueller faces up to 15 years in state prison.
Court papers filed by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) allege that Anyanwu-Mueller submitted claims for payment to Medicaid, in which he falsely purported to provide private-duty nursing services to two severely disabled Medicaid recipients who both required around the clock care at their respective homes located in New Rochelle and Peekskill, NY.
Between August 2010 and January 2015, Anyanwu-Mueller allegedly submitted false medical claims regarding a number of instances, including when the Medicaid recipients were in the hospital, when another nurse provided care, when the defendant was on vacation in Europe, when he was caring for another patient and for an extended period when he sent an unlicensed person to the recipient’s home but billed Medicaid as if he provided the care himself. Relying on the truthfulness and accuracy of his claims, which were uncovered as false during this investigation, Medicaid paid Anyanwu-Mueller over $390,000.
The judge set the bail at $75,000 and scheduled the defendant’s next court appearance on July 11.
The Attorney General would like to thank the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General for referring this matter.
The investigation was conducted by MFCU Investigator Timothy Connolly and Principal Auditor Investigator Lora Pomponio with the assistance of Supervising Investigator Peter Markiewicz, Deputy Chief Investigator Kenneth Morgan and Regional Chief Auditor John Regan.
The criminal case is being prosecuted by Regional Director Anne Jardine. Thomas O’Hanlon is the MFCU’s Downstate Chief of Criminal Investigations. MFCU is led by Director Amy Held and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Paul J. Mahoney.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
