This archive report was first published on 20 December 2019.
On December 20, 2019, a US-based Kenyan couple was arrested and charged with Medicaid fraud for allegedly exploiting homeless people in Massachusetts.
John Wachira, 52, and his wife Joanne Wachira, 60, of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, were arraigned before Middlesex Superior Court on charges of Medicaid false claims, larceny over $1,200, and Medicaid kickbacks.
The couple, who operate Petra Health Care, a home healthcare company, allegedly recruited at least 10 homeless people to live in their house for free, but required them to be MassHealth members between July 2015 and December 2017.
The individuals were allegedly required to sign up for Petra's home health care services and submit false timesheets showing they received services such as bathing and medication reminders.
The couple and Petra then billed MassHealth for these services, despite not providing them, resulting in $543,542.19 being obtained from the state health insurance program.
This is not the first time the Wachiras have been investigated by the Attorney General's Office, as they were previously ordered to pay over $200,000 in restitution and penalties for neglecting to pay their staff for overtime and travel.
