Middletown Behavioral Health Clinician Accused Of Defrauding Medicaid For $55K

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A Middletown woman has been charged with submitting false claims to the Connecticut Medicaid Health Insurance Program, according to a press release from the State of Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice.

Between Dec. 2018 and December 2020, Darlene Shuff-Porter, 64, of Middletown, a licensed behavioral health clinician and owner of Dailey Professional Counseling Services, LLC., in Meriden, billed for psychotherapy services that were not rendered, according to the press release.

Evidence acquired through an investigation showed that Dailey Professional Counseling Services, LLC. was not meeting with clients as reported, the release stated.

However, Shuff-Porter was submitting claims to the state Department of Social Services for payment. In addition, she was listing unlicensed employees to meet with clients and then billing as if licensed-qualified services were provided, the release stated.

The investigation concluded that Shuff-Porter fraudulently billed Medicaid and received an amount of $55,410.69 in Medicaid payments she was not entitled to, the release stated.

Shuff-Porter was charged with one count of health insurance fraud and one count of Larceny in the first degree by defrauding a public community, the release stated.

Shuff-Porter was released on a $50,000 non-surety bond. She is scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court, G.A., No. 14 on Dec. 7.

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.