Press Releases

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• 6/5/2017 Attorney General, DSS: State Reaches Settlement with Stamford-based Dentist Resolving False Claims Act Lawsuits

  A Stamford-based dentist will be excluded from participation in the state's Medicaid program for 10 years and will agree not to renew his expired dental license as part of a settlement resolving allegations that he engaged in a long-running and substantial scheme to submit false claims for dental services provided to residents of long-term care facilities in the state, Attorney General George Jepsen and state Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Roderick L. Bremby announced today (June 6, 2017).

• 5/2/2017 Gov. Malloy Reminds Connecticut Residents the Deadline to Apply for Home Heating Assistance is May 1; Those Seeking Assistance Should Call 2-1-1 or Visit www.ct.gov/staywarm for Guidance

  Governor Dannel P. Malloy today is reminding Connecticut residents who need help paying their home heating bills for the 2016-2017 winter season that there is still time to apply for assistance under the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program. The general deadline for applications is May 1, 2017, however eligible households that are subject to a shut-off notice by a utility for heating bills have an extended deadline of May 15.

• 3/21/2017 Lt. Gov. Wyman. Dept of Social Services, Access Health CT Commemorate 7th Anniversary of Affordable Care Act

  Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, Department of Social Services Commissioner Roderick Bremby, and Access Health CT CEO Jim Wadleigh released statements in advance of the seventh anniversary of the federal Affordable Care Act. In Connecticut, the ACA is credted with reducing the state’s uninsured rate by half to 3.8 percent, among the lowest in the nation. It has also spurred other major reform initiatives currently underway to improve the healthcare system and control costs.

• 1/11/2017 State-Federal Settlement Reached with Home Health Agency and its Owners to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

  A Stratford-based home health agency and its owners have reached a $5.25 million settlement with the state of Connecticut and the federal government to resolve allegations that the company submitted false claims to Connecticut's Medicaid program, Attorney General George Jepsen said today. The settlement stems from a three-year investigation led by the Office of the Connecticut Attorney General after an audit by the Department of Social Services… DSS Commissioner Roderick L. Bremby said, "This major investigation and settlement further indicate the need for strong financial oversight in our public medical assistance programs. I thank Attorney General Jepsen and his staff, as well as our other state and federal partners, for their outstanding work to safeguard fiscal integrity and protect taxpayer interests. I am also pleased to note that the investigation was based on a fraud referral following a regular audit by DSS Quality Assurance staff."

• 1/1/0001 State Launches CaringCareers.org, Awareness Campaign To Help Expand Workforce of In-Home Caregivers

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Social Services Commissioner Roderick L. Bremby today announced the launch of a special website, www.CaringCareers.org, and multi-media public awareness campaign to help Connecticut attract more people to the growing field of in-home caregiving. Highlighting the theme, ‘In-Home is In Demand,’ the website and campaign will promote opportunities in a job market that’s expanding rapidly as older adults and people with disabilities enjoy more options to live independently.

• 8/29/2016 State Settles Joint State-Federal False Claims Act Investigation with Pediatric Dental Provider

  A pediatric dental provider with practices in Milford and West Haven will pay more than $1.3 million to the state and federal government to resolve allegations that he submitted false claims to Connecticut's Medicaid program for x-ray services that did not comply with state law, Attorney General George Jepsen said today. The investigation was conducted jointly with the Connecticut U.S. Attorney's Office, federal agents with the U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General/Office of Investigations and the Connecticut Department of Social Services Office of Quality Assurance.

• 8/9/2016 Court Orders Restitution, Civil Penalties against Dentist, Dental Practice in Illegal Medicaid Billing Case

  A Winsted dentist and his practice were ordered to pay $717,046 in restitution and civil penalties after a Superior Court judge found his conduct violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, also known as CUTPA, Attorney General George Jepsen said today… DSS Commissioner Roderick L. Bremby said, "Overall, dental and medical providers in Connecticut's Medicaid program are dedicated practitioners whose treatment services and reimbursement billings are conducted in a professional, above-board manner. Unfortunately, there are some outliers who cause the need for vigilant quality assurance and anti-fraud enforcement. I am pleased to acknowledge and thank the Attorney General's Office, the Department of Consumer Protection and our other state and federal partners for their continuing work with DSS quality assurance investigators in this crucial area."

• 7/11/2016 State Settles with Psychiatrist who Allegedly Submitted False Claims to the Connecticut Medicaid Program

  A New Haven and Fairfield-based psychiatrist and her husband will pay $400,000 to settle a civil False Claims Act lawsuit originally filed by the Attorney General in June 2015 alleging that the couple engaged in a long term scheme to submit false claims for services provided to Medicaid patients in Connecticut. The settlement agreement was approved last week by a Hartford Superior Court judge, Attorney General George Jepsen said. DSS Commissioner Roderick L. Bremby said, "While not representing Medicaid-enrolled providers as a whole, this is a disturbing reminder that anti-fraud and program integrity measures are absolutely necessary to protect taxpayer investments in public health coverage.”

• 5/24/2016 State Enters Settlement with Newtown Psychiatrist Resolving False Claim Allegations

  A Newtown psychiatrist has agreed to a $422,641.70 joint federal-state settlement and will enter into a compliance program to resolve allegations that he submitted false claims for payments to Connecticut's Medicaid program and to Medicare, Attorney General George Jepsen said today…Department of Social Services Commissioner Roderick L. Bremby said, "As administering agency for Medicaid in Connecticut, DSS joins our state and federal partners in a strong commitment to protect the integrity of the program. While this false claims case does not represent medical providers as a whole, it underscores the need for continual quality control and anti-fraud oversight. We thank Attorney General Jepsen and his staff, the state Division of Criminal Justice Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the United States Attorney's Office, and the HHS Inspector General's Office for their outstanding work in coordination with DSS quality assurance investigators."

• 1/1/0001 Heating Aid Applications Available Through May 31

  (HARTFORD, CT) – State officials have extended the deadline for applying for federal energy assistance to cover this past winter’s home-heating bills, a step that will especially help households now receiving shutoff notices from utility companies. Applications for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) are being accepted for another full month, through Tuesday, May 31, at community sites throughout the state.

• 4/26/2016 State Joins Joint State-Federal Settlement with Wyeth Resolving Allegations of Underpaying Rebates

  Connecticut will take part in a global $784.6 million settlement with drug-maker Wyeth to resolve allegations that the company knowingly underpaid rebates owed under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program for the sales of the drug Protonix, Attorney General George Jepsen, Chief State's Attorney Kevin T. Kane and Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Roderick L. Bremby announced today.

• 3/22/2016 Lt. Gov. Wyman, Gov. Malloy, State Officials on 6th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

  Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, Chair of the Board of Access Health CT (AHCT), Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Access Health CT CEO Jim Wadleigh, Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Roderick Bremby, Connecticut Insurance Department Commissioner Katharine L. Wade, and State Healthcare Advocate Victoria Veltri issued statements on the 6th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. Lt. Governor Wyman said, "This law has had tremendous impact in Connecticut, ensuring more than 700,000 residents have access to high quality, affordable healthcare. Our leadership has not only cut the state's uninsured rate in half, but has also provided guidance for other states. This makes for healthier communities and a stronger, more productive workforce." Please click on above link for the full statements.

• 3/7/2016 AG Jepsen: State Enters Settlement with Tolland Psychiatrist Resolving False Claim Allegations

  A Tolland psychiatrist will pay $404,798 to settle a civil False Claims Act lawsuit alleging that she submitted false claims for payments to Connecticut's Medicaid program. The resolution stems from a lawsuit and settlement agreement approved yesterday by a Hartford Superior Court judge, Attorney General George Jepsen said today…"As administering agency for Medicaid in Connecticut, DSS works closely with our state and federal partners to safeguard the integrity of the program," said DSS Commissioner Roderick L. Bremby. "While this false claims case does not represent medical providers as a whole, it does highlight the fact that constant vigilance is necessary to protect taxpayer investments in public health coverage. We thank Attorney General Jepsen and his staff, the Division of Criminal Justice Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the HHS Inspector General’s Office for their outstanding work in coordination with DSS quality assurance investigators."

• 3/7/2016 Gov Malloy Reminds Residents There is Still Time to Apply for Winter Heating Assistance

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy is reminding Connecticut residents who need help paying winter heating bills that there is still time to apply for federal energy assistance benefits.

• 1/3/2016 Governor Malloy Activates State Severe Cold Weather Protocol Through Tuesday Morning; Anyone Seeking Shelter Should Call 2-1-1

  Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced he has activated the state's Severe Cold Weather Protocol in anticipation of temperatures in the teens and single digits and wind chills below zero overnight. The protocol is effective beginning the afternoon of Monday, January 4, 2016 and will remain in effect through the morning of Tuesday, January 5.