Fraud among Medicaid personal care service (PCS) attendants remains a chief concern for HHS officials aiming to root out bad actors in home health. 
 
The HHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released its annual Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCU) report, which details civil and criminal fraud and abuse convictions and financial recoveries, on March 12.  
 
According to the report, PCS attendants accounted for 36% of the OIG’s fraud convictions in 2024. The provider type saw 298 convictions, up slightly from 2023. By comparison, nurses — the second most common provider type for fraud convictions — had 93.  
 
PCS attendants have comprised a significant portion of fraud convictions for the past decade, the OIG notes. Providers accused of criminal or civil fraud or abuse often face costly consequences, including government investigations, monetary penalties, legal battles and loss of business.  
 
The OIG also states in the report that its MFCUs recovered $12.5 million in civil recoveries from home health agencies last year. 
 
To read the 2024 Medicaid Fraud Control Units report, visit https://bit.ly/4kvN8PH.