Agape settles Medicaid fraud allegations

The Agape Adult Day Center at 6349 Lincolnia Road.

Agape Health Management Inc., which operates under the name Agape Adult Day Healthcare Center,  has agreed to pay $385,917 to settle federal and state civil fraud allegations that claimed Agape submitted false claims for reimbursement to the Virginia Medicaid Program. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced the settlement May 3.

Agape opened a new adult day center for seniors on Lincolnia Road in December. The company provides community-based health, therapeutic, and social services for elderly and disabled Medicaid recipients – plus transportation to and from the facility.

The Department of Justice had charged Agape with knowingly submitting false or fraudulent claims for transportation services during 2009-11 at its former facility at 5701 General Washington Drive in Alexandria. The company purportedly provided transportation services to Medicaid recipients who were not present or transported to the Agape facility on the claimed dates of service.

The civil claims outlined in the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability. The resolution of this case was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General, the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, and the FBI’s Washington Field Office.