Cranford Health Agency Owner Accused of Medicaid Fraud

The owner of Home Care Solutions in Cranford was arrested on Friday for allegedly billing Medicaid for services that were never provided, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said.

After multiple search warrants were issued by the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, Laurie Provost, 53, of Sea Girt, was charged with seven counts of second-degree health care claims fraud and one count of third-degree Medicaid fraud, the Attorney General’s Office stated.

“Defrauding the Medicaid program is a very serious crime that puts an unfair burden on honest taxpayers and takes money out of a system meant to help those who are most vulnerable,” Hoffman said. “The Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor will continue to be vigilant in prosecuting these high priority cases.”

Provost is the owner of Home Care Solutions located on Commerce Drive. HCS provides health aides to the homes of those with Medicaid.

The charges focus on fraudulent billings by the company from 2011 to now, Hoffman said. The Attorney General’s Office said Provost, through HCS, submitted multiple fraudulent claims to Medicaid and/or organizations that provide services to Medicaid beneficiaries.

“It is alleged that Provost knowingly submitted requests for payment for services that were not provided, including billing for services purportedly provided to Medicaid beneficiaries by home health care aides while the beneficiaries were hospitalized or on vacation," Hoffman said.

The Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor had detectives execute search warrants at HCS, Provost’s home and her 2009 Porsche Cayenne on Friday.