Press Release  Brighton Group Adult Foster Care Company to Pay $3 Million to Resolve Allegations of False Billing

Boston — – A Brighton health care company will pay $3 million to resolve allegations that it improperly charged the state’s Medicaid Program (MassHealth) for Group Adult Foster Care services (GAFC), Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Under the terms of a settlement agreement, Absolute Care Inc. (Absolute) and its owner, Boris Yablonovsky, will pay $3 million to resolve allegations that since 2013, the company overbilled MassHealth by falsifying caregiver timesheets and submitting claims for dates on which care was not provided. In addition to the financial settlement, Absolute has agreed to a multi-year independent compliance program at its own expense.

“False and inaccurate billing harms those who rely on MassHealth for care,” said AG Healey. “This settlement will return a significant amount of money to the program and help ensure our most vulnerable get the health care that they need.”

The GAFC program is intended to provide services for certain MassHealth members living in qualified subsidized housing if the member requires help with at least one Activity of Daily Living, such as bathing, dressing, toileting, or meal preparation. 

The AG’s Office remains active in enforcing the state’s rules and regulations concerning the Adult Foster Care program. In March, a Brockton health care company paid more than $548,000 to resolve allegations that was improperly charging MassHealth for Adult Foster Care services. In 2017, a Middleborough woman pleaded guilty for double-billing MassHealth for both Adult Foster Care and Personal Care Attendant Services.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorneys General Philip Schreiber and William Champlin IV, and Investigator Shelby Stephens of the AG’s Medicaid Fraud Division. This case was referred to the AG’s Office by MassHealth. MassHealth and Tufts Health Plan provided substantial assistance during this investigation.

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