2 Medford Residents Indicted In Home Care Scheme: AG

MEDFORD, MA — Two Medford residents were among seven people indicted in a coordinated sweep of fraud and abuse cases in the MassHealth Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program, Attorney General Maura Healey's office said.

"More people than ever rely on MassHealth resources for the care they need to stay in their homes," Healey said in a statement. "We need to make sure that those resources are not being used for fraudulent payments."

Abdikadir Maow, 48, and Abdinafa Maow, 26, both of Medford, were indicted on one count each of false Medicaid claims and larceny over $1,200, the AG said.

Investigators say from 2015 to May 2020, Abdikadir Maow and his PCA, Abdinafa Maow, submitted timesheets for PCA services that were not actually performed. They billed and got paid for PCA hours during times when Abdinafa Maow was working at a secondary employer or while one or both of them were traveling or living outside the country for long periods of time, the AG's office said.

The Maows are accused of fraudulently receiving more than $100,000 from MassHealth, the AG said.

The MassHealth PCA Program helps people live independently in the community by providing medically necessary physical assistance with personal care needs. Through the consumer-driven program, eligible MassHealth members employ PCAs to assist them with their activities of daily living. These services are paid for by MassHealth through a fiscal intermediary.

"As this critical program expands, so do the number of people trying to abuse it," said State Auditor Suzanne Bump, whose office collaborated with the Attorney General on the investigation. "This collaboration across state and federal law enforcement represents our collective determination to discourage and punish this abuse."

Members of the public who are aware of similar practices by those involved in the PCA program or by other health care providers should call the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Division at (617) 963-2360 or file a complaint through the Attorney General’s website.