Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced that Aqua Vision Care, LLC agreed to pay $143,336.00 to resolve allegations that it violated the Maryland False Health Claims Act by submitting or causing claims to be submitted to the Medicaid Program for vision services that were not provided. Kelechi Mezu Nnabue is a licensed optometrist who provided vision services at Aqua Vision and who certified that the services billed to the Medicaid program were furnished, medically indicated, and necessary to the health of the patients. The State’s allegations relate to claims submitted by Aqua Vision for eye exams. Aqua Vision billed Medicaid monthly, and sometimes several times a month, for an eye exam for the same recipients. Medicaid covers a maximum of one optometric examination per year for recipients younger than 21 years and one optometric exam every two years for recipients 21 years and older, unless time limitations are waived by the Program, based on medical necessity. The amount paid in restitution represents $71,668.00 for vision care services that were not provided, as well as a civil penalty of $71,668.00.
