The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (AGO) announced on October 27, 2025, that a Worcester County Grand Jury has returned 13 indictments against a temporary nurse staffing agency, its owner, and a former employee. They are accused of staffing nursing homes with uncertified individuals and fraudulently billing those facilities for services provided.
The agency is charged with Larceny by False Pretenses over $1,200, Larceny by False Pretenses Under $1,200, and Attempted Larceny by False Pretenses. The owner faces the same charges, along with Identity Fraud. The former employee is charged with Attempted Larceny by False Pretenses and Identity Fraud.
According to the AGO, the owner, 46, of Worcester, has operated the agency since 2020. The company provides certified nursing assistants (CNAs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and registered nurses (RNs) to nursing homes in the Worcester area. Under Department of Public Health regulations, temporary nurse staffing agencies must ensure that all medical personnel maintain valid licenses, registrations, or certifications for their positions.
The AGO alleges that the owner knowingly allowed or instructed uncertified individuals to work as CNAs in Worcester-area nursing homes, putting patients at risk. She allegedly billed the nursing homes for CNA services, claiming that uncertified aides were licensed CNAs. The agency allegedly billed and received more than $300,000 for CNA services that were not performed by certified aides.
The former employee, 29, of Worcester, worked for the agency between 2023 and 2024. During that time, he allegedly worked in nursing homes despite never obtaining a CNA certificate in Massachusetts, and impersonated a licensed CNA under the owner’s direction.
The case was investigated and prosecuted by Managing Attorney Katie Cooper Davis and Investigator Kevin Todd of the AGO’s Medicaid Fraud Division, with assistance from the Shrewsbury Police Department, the Board of Registration in Nursing, the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office.
Compliance Perspective
Issue
Nursing homes and other healthcare facilities have a responsibility to ensure that all individuals providing care are properly trained, certified, and competent to perform their assigned duties. When uncertified or unqualified individuals are permitted to work in direct care roles, the safety of those receiving care, quality of care, and regulatory compliance are jeopardized. Facilities should implement effective systems for verifying credentials, monitoring competency, and addressing any concerns through clear procedures, ongoing education, and regular oversight.
Discussion Points
- Review facility policies and procedures for verifying employee credentials, including certifications and job qualifications for direct care staff. Clearly outline who is responsible for verification, how it is documented, and the frequency of revalidation. Ensure that policies address how the facility responds to discrepancies or reports of unqualified personnel. Facilities may also find value in collaborating with an experienced compliance consultant to assess current verification systems, conduct focused reviews, and strengthen internal controls related to credentialing and staffing oversight.
- Provide targeted training to relevant staff on credential verification, competency requirements, and regulatory compliance. Training should emphasize the importance of assigning staff only to roles for which they are qualified and licensed. Med-Net Academy offers courses such as Employee Recordkeeping Requirements and Education and Staying on Top of Employee Checks, which cover topics including staffing and competency standards, license and certification verification, employee background checks, and use of exclusion lists.
- Conduct periodic audits of employee credentials, personnel files, and staffing records to confirm compliance with regulatory standards. Incorporate these audits into your facility’s Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) process to identify trends or gaps. Partnering with knowledgeable consultants or mock survey teams can help facilities objectively evaluate their internal audit processes, strengthen documentation practices, and implement corrective actions that align with current regulations and best practices.
*This news alert has been prepared by Med-Net Concepts, Inc. for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice.*