NEW YORK (WABC) — Two operators of a Staten Island adult day care center are in custody on charges including health care fraud as part of a larger federal investigation into alleged Medicaid fraud.
The owner and program director of Staten Island Adult Day Care Center on Forest Avenue in Mariners Harbor are accused of engaging in “widespread deception and brazen fraud” totaling up to $530,000 over a four-month period beginning April 14. The center was empty Wednesday.
Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon said the defendants are also accused of billing for services involving people who had died or were outside the country.
“Furthermore, these defendants allegedly stole an additional $13,000 billing for at least 32 seniors that were either confirmed to be deceased or out of the country at the time of the apparent rendering of services,” McMahon said.
Law enforcement raided the Staten Island location and other adult care centers in Brooklyn and Queens on Tuesday. The raids are part of a larger federal investigation targeting operators accused of billing Medicaid for services clients never received.
Gov. Kathy Hochul described the effort as an attempt to “weed out the abuse.” The FBI, in a video announcement, said it is focused on dismantling billion-dollar health care schemes after finding “significant indicators of waste…abuse and fraud.”
“Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar that should be helping New Yorkers get the care and services they need,” New York State Health Commissioner James McDonald said.
Amanda, who did not want to appear on camera, said she felt something was not adding up at the Staten Island center.
“Maybe two or three people would be in a van, and there’s always two vans every morning, the van would go out like they were picking up people but….there was no one coming out of them…” Amanda said.
Others who work in the same building disagreed.
“They had classes, karaoke, singing, dancing…I just feel bad for the people who are actually using the center and it’s part of their daily life…” one person said.
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