Nevada Healthcare Worker Sentenced For Medicaid Fraud

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April 25, 2007 -- Las Vegas – Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto announced today that Las Vegan Vanxay Rasasak, age 67, was sentenced for Medicaid Fraud. The case was investigated and prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU). MFCU Director, Tim Terry, said the investigations began in 2006, as a result of a citizen’s complaint. Medicaid has a personal care aid program to keep people living independently in their own homes by providing basic services, including bathing, dressing, cleaning and meal preparation. Medicaid contracts with home care companies that in turn employ individuals to provide the actual day-to-day care.

Vanxay Rasasak was employed to provide home care services to his mother-in-law. He was accused of submitting claims for work performed when other records showed he was out of the country. Rasasak pled guilty to a gross misdemeanor offense: Medicaid Fraud–Failure to Maintain Adequate Records. District Court Judge Jennifer Togliatti sentenced him to 60 days in jail, suspended, payment of $2,750.00 in restitution and probation for one year.

Attorney General Cortez Masto said “Though this case appears to have a small amount of loss, the continued prosecution of these types of cases is sending a message to the health care community that fraudulent activities involving Medicaid recipients will not go unpunished.”

The Nevada Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates and prosecutes instances of elder abuse or neglect. The unit also investigates and prosecutes financial fraud by those providing healthcare services or goods to Medicaid patients. Anyone wishing to report suspicions regarding any of these concerns may contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in Carson City (775) 684-1191 or in Las Vegas (702) 486-3187. Medicaid fraud information can also be found on the Attorney General’s web site: http://ag.state.nv.us

Source: Nevada Attorney General