Posted on: Friday, May 31, 2002

Special-education fraud hotline now open

Advertiser Staff

To find parents who think they know of false claims or irregular billing in special-education services, the attorney general's office has started a toll-free hot line for Neighbor Island residents:

Call (888) 586-7080 to reach the Attorney General's Medicaid Investigations Division.

O'ahu residents with information about false claims or irregular billing are asked to call 586-1058.

A grand jury this month issued a 10-count indictment against a therapeutic aide for medical assistance fraud — the first criminal charge brought against anyone involved in the implementation of a federal court order to improve services to Hawai'i's special-needs students.

The woman was accused of billing the state for $1,800 in services that were not provided. Officials say those charges represent the "tip of the iceberg," with at least six other individuals under investigation, further indictments expected and more cases in the pipeline.

They said the probe targets such areas as falsification of records and providers not qualified to work with special-needs children.