Hartford home health care company, and owners, must pay $360K after allegations

HARTFORD, Conn. — The current and former owners of Home Care VNA, LLC, a home health care company located on Main Street in Hartford, must pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to settle false claims allegations, as was announced on Thursday by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

Shakira Lubega and Constant Ogutt have reportedly entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments. They will pay $361,520 to settle allegations that they were paid for home health care services that were in violation of Medicaid regulations relating to care plans.

Prosecutors said Lubega currently owns Home Care VNA while Ogutt is a former part owner. Lubega and Ogutt are a married couple.

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As a payment condition for home health care services, the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies require that each patient has a care plan, which is signed by a licensed practitioner within 21 days after the episode of care begins. A new or modified plan of care is reviewed, revised and signed every 60 days.

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The United States and State of Connecticut allege that Home Care VNA, Lubega and Ogutt submitted, or caused to be submitted, claims for reimbursement to Connecticut Medicaid for home health care services for patients who had unsigned plans of care or no plans of care at all.

Home Care VNA, Lubega and Ogutt have agreed to pay $36,520 to resolve the governments’ False Claims Act allegations, covering the period from Aug. 1, 2018, through March 26, 2020.

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The Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services investigated the case. In 2022, Home Care VNA, Lubega and Ogutt paid $630,000 to resolve Medicaid fraud allegations in Massachusetts.

Those who suspect health care fraud can report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.

Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at [email protected]. 

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