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Worcester Health Agency Owner Found Guilty of Stealing $2.5 Million

By Patrick Sargent | May 15, 2019
Last Updated: February 2, 2021

WORCESTER – The owner of a home health agency that had an office at 37 Highland St. in Worcester [pictured] has been convicted on charges in connection with stealing approximately $2.5 million from MassHealth.

According to Attorney General Maura Healey’s office, after a 10-day jury trial, Hellen Kiago, 48, of Sturbridge, was convicted on Tuesday in Worcester Superior Court on charges of Medicaid False Claims (4 counts) and Larceny over $250 by False Pretenses (1 count).

Kiago will be sentenced by Judge Robert Gordon on May 24. She was indicted in 2017 after an investigation by the AG’s office following several complaints from former employees alleging misconduct and fraudulent billing practices. 

Kiago’s business, Lifestream Healthcare Alliance [which also had an office in Dracut], was convicted on the same charges.

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Kiago and Lifestream were convicted on charges of billing MassHealth for services that were not authorized by physicians.  The AG’s office found that Kiago was personally directing employees to provide patients with hours beyond those deemed necessary medically necessary by the clinician.

Kiago also directed employees to falsify documents to hide wrongdoing including forging physician signatures during a MassHealth audit and creating false corrective orders.

In total, these schemes defrauded MassHealth of approximately $2.5 million.

Lead photo: Former home of Lifestream Healthcare Alliance at 37 Highland St. in Worcester.

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