Feds: Ex-Hudson County health official received $2,200 in bribes for patient referrals

A former Hudson County health official is accused of taking at least three bribes totaling $2,200 for patient referrals between August 2016 and January 2017, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

Myrtha Nicolas, 61, of Jersey City, was charged with one count of extortion under color of official right.

She made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court today and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond.

The Hudson County Office on Aging is an agency of the N.J. Division of Disability Services (DDS) under the State of New Jersey’s Department of Human Services.

The DDS works to streamline access to services and information designed to promote and enhance independent living for individuals with disabilities.

Included among the services coordinated by DDS were Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS), whether for an individual living at home, an assisted living facility, or a nursing home.

As a referral coordinator for the office on aging, Nicolas exercised control over the coordination and assignment of patients with disabilities in need of home health care services to companies that provide home health care aides.

In June of 2016, Nicolas was approached by a confidential witness, who was a self-employed executive of a home health care company. Nicolas agreed to help refer patients to the CW and agreed to accept $500 dollars per patient she referred to the CW’s company.

On August 4, 2016, Nicolas accepted a payment of $600 for the referral of a patient. The CW complained that the CW was forced to redirect the patient to another health care company because the patient proved difficult, prompting Nicolas to assure the CW that the CW “will get the easy ones,” in the future.

Then on January 23, 2017, Nicolas accepted another $600 cash payment for a patient referral. Nicolas confirmed that she had previously received gift cards from the CW years earlier, but expressed no preference whether future payments from the CW would be in cash or gift cards.

On Oct. 17, 2017, Nicolas accepted a final corrupt payment of $1,000 from the CW for patient referrals, promising the CW that in terms of future patients, “whatever I have, you’ll have.”

The extortion under color of official right charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss.