The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office has begun revocation proceedings against two Jersey City healthcare service firms for falsifying documents to the state, as well as improperly training home health aides that were sent into patients homes.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The action follows an investigation conducted by the Division of Consumer Affairs into NJ Golden Home Care Corporation and Nora Home Care LLC, both located at 910 Bergen Ave. in Jersey City at different suites, for alleged violations of the Private Employment Agency Act and the related regulations.
Parallel investigations into Golden and Nora found their (homemaker-home health aides) CHHA training programs allegedly were not taught or overseen by an approved program instructor and a program coordinator, who are tasked with ensuring that training programs meet the required standards.
“Golden and Nora falsified their training program applications and CHHA Eligibility Lists, documents that are required to be submitted to and approved by the Board in order for Golden and Nora to offer their CHHA training programs,” a June 21st verified compliant filed by Deputy Attorney General Alina Wells with the New Jersey Board of Nursing says.
These alleged deficiencies would cause the training programs, and the individuals they trained, to not satisfy the board’s requirements for certification as a CHHA.
The action announced today is not final: the companies can request a hearing to challenge these allegations and present additional information.
This is the second time the state has taken action against Golden.
On November 28th, 2018, the Division issued a Notice of Violation to Golden for violations of the Private Employment Agency Act and related regulations. Golden did not contest the violations and paid a $4,000 civil penalty.
As a result of these investigations, the attorney general has also initiated disciplinary proceedings against individual CHHAs who allegedly obtained their certification without completing the educational requirements mandated by the state Board of Nursing. T
hose actions will be adjudicated by the board, which oversees CHHAs and authorizes all CHHA training programs.
Deputy Attorneys General Donna J. Dorgan of the Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section and Alina Wells of the Professional Boards Prosecution Section in the Division of Law’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Practice Group are representing the dtate in the matter.
Investigators Maureen P. Browne of the Office of Consumer Protection, and Kathleen Cefalu, Walter Mazariegos and Matthew Conicella assigned to the Enforcement Bureau within the Division of Consumer Affairs conducted the investigation.
Clients of Golden and Nora who have questions should reach out to their health plans:
Aetna Better Health of New Jersey
Medicaid and Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Members: 1-855-232-3596
Aetna Assure Premier Plus (HMO D-SNP) members: 1- 844-362-0934
Amerigroup New Jersey: 1-855-661-1996
Horizon
Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) members: 1-844-444-4410
Non-MLTSS members: 1-800-682-9094
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan: 1-800-645-9409
WellCare: 855-642-6185
Hi John ….. I’m and CPA and have taught fraud and ethics full time since 1987. And I have the only speakers bureau in the U.S. for white collar criminals. TheProsAndTheCons.com. Google my name to read profiles in WSJ, NYT and more. One of my speakers is Pulitzer Prize Winning Investigative Journalist Mike Sallah. So anything fraud gets my attention.
Auditors are required to assess risk every year. That means there’s no excuse for not knowing publicly available info. I’d be very surprised if Golden and Nora’s outside auditors even know about this revocation and fraud charges that could put the companies out of business. It’s called a “going concern” opinion.
I have lot more details about auditors.