HARRISBURG, PA — Tina Bell, 56, owner and manager of Superior Health, Inc., is facing multiple charges related to alleged Medicaid fraud and neglect of vulnerable individuals. Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced the charges, which include theft by deception, receiving stolen property, Medicaid fraud, tampering with public records, and neglect of a care-dependent person.
Bell, whose Erie County-based agency was licensed to provide non-medical home care, allegedly operated shared-care homes and billed Medicaid for medical services that were either not provided or handled by unqualified individuals. The Office of Attorney General’s investigation revealed that Bell received over $1 million in Medicaid payments through false claims and inadequate care practices, which reportedly jeopardized the well-being of individuals under her agency’s care.
Authorities allege that Bell directed an unlicensed individual to perform nursing duties and falsified records during state audits to conceal violations. These included understaffing, untrained employees, and missing employee health screenings. Bell also allegedly created fraudulent medical and financial documents to support her claims for Medicaid payment.
Attorney General Henry commented, “The defendant allegedly put patients at risk while providing subpar care and services, and defrauded a system designed to help the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians.”
Bail for Bell has been set at $100,000, and her preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 31. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Samuel Zappala and Attorney-In-Charge Kee Song of the Medicaid Fraud Control Section.
Bell is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.