OIG continues attendant care investigations, education
The OIG’s Investigations and Reviews Division continues to receive complaints and managed care organization referrals related to personal care attendants. Complainants report attendants billing for services not rendered, falsifying documentation and billing for attendant care while the client is an inpatient at a hospital or nursing facility.
The OIG continues to investigate attendant care cases and recommend administrative action based on findings. In fiscal year 2021, nine personal care attendants have been excluded from Medicaid participation.
More than 40 percent of the OIG’s preliminary provider investigations in fiscal year 2021 have been focused on attendants. Most of those referrals come from the Department of Family and Protective Services.
As part of its fraud, waste and abuse prevention efforts, the OIG produced educational resources for providers and attendants. The prevention advisory informs providers of common home health violations and the potential penalties involved. The OIG has worked with providers to distribute letters for attendants, in English and Spanish, highlighting fraudulent behavior. The letters are available on the OIG’s website under the resources section: https://oig.hhs.texas.gov/resources/information-providers