A Connecticut social worker and a doctor must repay $120,000 to the state Medicaid program to resolve accusations they filed fraudulent claims for mental-health care reimbursement, authorities say.
David M. Meyers, a licensed social worker, and physician W. Blake Taggart M.D. agreed to the settlement with the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (CMAP) that is part of the state Medicaid program, state Attorney General George P. Jepsen said Friday.
According to investigators, Meyers is former president of Cornerstones P.C. The former Branford outpatient psychiatric clinic for children contracted with Taggart to serve as medical director to, among other things, oversee its compliance with state regulations.
In 2009, Taggart left Cornerstones, investigators said. However, two months later Meyers falsely told the state Department of Social Services (DSS) that Taggart was still its medical director.
Taggart facilitated the ruse, investigators said, by signing the back-dated letter from Meyers that claimed he was still Cornerstones’ medical director. State rules require providers who contract to deliver care under CMAP to have one.
From Jan. 1, 2010, through Feb. 28, 2011, DSS paid Cornerstones $64,049.02 for claims submitted to CMAP while the clinic was providing services to children allegedly without the supervision of a medical director.
Meyers agreed to pay $90,000; Taggart has paid $30,000 to resolve the state’s allegations, authorities said. Cornerstones P.C. has been dissolved and is no longer in operation.
