19 defendants charged in Pennsylvania home healthcare fraud schemes

August 4, 2026 - 23:37

Nineteen people are facing criminal charges after a sweeping investigation into fraudulent home healthcare operations across Pennsylvania, according to state officials. The defendants are accused of billing Medicaid for services that were never provided, falsifying patient records, and using unlicensed workers to perform skilled nursing tasks.

The charges stem from a multi-county probe that uncovered schemes involving dozens of patients and hundreds of thousands of dollars in improper payments. Investigators say several home care agencies submitted claims for hours that did not match any actual visits, while some employees allegedly forged caregiver notes to cover up the missing care. In other cases, individuals without proper certifications were sent into patients' homes, putting vulnerable residents at risk.

Attorney General Michelle Henry described the actions as a betrayal of both taxpayers and the elderly or disabled people who depend on these services. "These defendants treated a program meant to keep people safe in their homes as a personal cash register," she said in a statement. The charges include felony counts of theft by deception, Medicaid fraud, and conspiracy, with some defendants also facing identity theft for using real nurses' credentials without permission.

Officials said the investigation is ongoing and that more arrests are possible. The state's Medicaid program, which funds home care for low-income residents, has been tightening oversight in recent years, but this case highlights persistent gaps. If convicted, the defendants could face years in prison and be ordered to pay restitution. Court dates have not yet been scheduled for most of the accused.