Natavia Boyd-Wells, the 40-year-old owner of Touch of the Heart Home Health Care LLC, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly defrauding the Missouri Medicaid Program and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) out of more than $800,000. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri, announced the indictment on Thursday.
Boyd-Wells is accused of submitting hundreds of fraudulent claims for home healthcare services that were never provided. The charges highlight instances where she billed for services that could not have been rendered, including situations in which veteran-patients were hospitalized at the time of the claimed care.
In 2022, after an audit request from Missouri Medicaid, Boyd-Wells allegedly submitted false electronic documentation to support her fraudulent claims. She is also accused of submitting deceptive claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs, including one where she claimed that a patient received more than 24 hours of care in a single day.
The indictment further alleges that Boyd-Wells received over $197,000 from Missouri Medicaid and more than $600,000 from the VA, which were deposited into an account under her control.
“This indictment sends a clear message that the VA Office of Inspector General will vigorously pursue those who attempt to defraud VA healthcare programs,” said Gregory Billingsley, Special Agent in Charge of the VA OIG.
It is important to note that the charges in an indictment are accusations and do not represent proof of guilt.
