News

June 21, 2008

Two nurses charged with insurance fraud

Pair suspected of submitting false claims for services to two disabled children.

By Ed Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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KINGSTON – A husband and wife, one a nurse, the other a nurse’s aide, were charged by the state Attorney General’s Office Friday with insurance fraud.

Thomas English Adams, 43, and Desara Jo Adams, 38, of Cherokee Drive, Shickshiny, are suspected of submitting false claims for services provided to two disabled children.

The couple surrendered to authorities at the office of District Judge Paul J. Roberts Jr. in Kingston, where they were charged with three counts of Medicaid fraud, two counts of criminal attempt and one count of theft. They were released on $10,000 unsecured bail.

The charges were filed after a six-month investigation by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Section.

Arrest records indicate Thomas Adams was a licensed practical nurse and Desara Adams was a certified nurse’s aide for Nursefinders, an Allentown-based home health agency which provides staff to hospitals, nursing homes and in residential settings.

Nursefinders receives reimbursement for health care services through the state Department of Public Welfare’s Medical Assistance program.

Under their work agreement with Nursefinders, according to arrest records, Thomas Adams was paid $19 per hour for services provided to his disabled daughter, and $40 per visit plus $16.96 for mileage for each day of services provided to another disabled child from Hunlock Township. Desara Adams was paid $10 per hour for services provided to the Hunlock Township child.

The couple’s daughter is a Medical Assistance recipient, according to arrest records.

According to the criminal complaints:

Nursefinders employed the couple from May 2006 until their termination in December 2006. At the time of their hiring, they were told that part of their employment would involve taking care of their disabled daughter, but that they wouldn’t be paid if they went on vacation.

During the week of Nov. 28 to Dec. 3, 2006, the couple submitted claims to Nursefinders, seeking to be paid $2,397 for services provided to the children whom they took on vacation in Florida, according to the criminal complaint.

Nursefinders refused to pay the couple. They were fired from their jobs when they returned from Florida in early December 2006.

The investigation determined Thomas Adams had been employed by MRI Healthcare Staffing in Dallas from May 2005 to August 2007, being assigned to provide nurse duties at several regional hospitals, including an Allentown facility, the criminal complaint says.

The criminal complaint indicates Thomas Adams submitted claims to Nursefinders for services provided to the two disabled children at the same time he was working at the hospitals for MRI.

According to the criminal complaint, the couple was paid $2,065 for 59 hours of services provided to the two disabled children from June to November 2006, at the same time Thomas Adams was working in hospitals for MRI.

Preliminary hearings are tentatively scheduled for June 30 in Central Court.

Edward Lewis, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7196.

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