Family First Community Support Services, LLC
Patricia Lafayette and Maurice Sharpe, mother and son and co-owners of Family First Community Support Services, LLC (FFCSS), a social services agency located in Torrington, Conn., admitted defrauding Medicaid of over $1.6 million. FFCSS submitted claims to Medicaid using the billing number for Anne Charlotte Silver, a licensed clinical social worker who owned and operated Silver Counseling Services, LLC, in Canton and Bantam. Claims for psychotherapy services were submitted to Medicaid that falsely represented that Silver had personally provided the services. Hundreds of claims were also submitted to Medicaid for psychotherapy services purportedly provided to Sharpe’s family members, including his children and nieces and nephews, when no such services were ever provided. Under the scheme, Silver allegedly kept 25 percent of the proceeds. The charge of health care fraud carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.
Danbury Physician Pays $36,000 to Settle False Claims Act Allegations
Anton Fry, MD, and CPC Associates, Inc., have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal government in which they will pay $36,704 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act. The government alleged that Dr. Fry and CPC Associates submitted improper claims to Medicare for psychiatric services that were provided over the phone to certain Medicare beneficiaries, instead of by meeting with the beneficiaries in the office and treating them in person. This case was prompted by two whistleblowers, a former patient of Dr. Fry, and Medical Bill Consultants, LLC, a billing company.