Rocky Hill caregiver used dead person's ID in $400K Medicaid fraud scheme, officials say [The Middletown Press, Conn.]

Mar. 14—ROCKY HILL — State officials said a 33-year-old local home care provider is facing several charges in relation to a Medicaid fraud scheme, where she obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice said in a release that Saruka Prima is charged with first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community, health insurance fraud and two counts of first-degree identity theft. They added Prima was released on a $250,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in New Britain Superior Court later this month.

Prima, an owner of a a licensed Connecticut Home Care Provider business, submitted fraudulent claims for a deceased person and a former employee to collect the funds, officials said. All together, Prima stole $421,739 in Medicaid funds.

Prima's warrant said she submitted these claims between April 2019 and July 2023. Officials said Prima was arrested Wednesday.

Anyone with knowledge of suspected fraud or abuse in the public healthcare system is asked to contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at the Office of the Chief State's Attorney at 860-258-5986.

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