Chapter 2 - WHY A FEDERAL AGENT KNEW MY NAME
Six weeks earlier, I had not known what HHS-OIG meant.
A man called my office.
“Rachel Foster?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Adrian Cole. I’m a special agent with the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services.”
My first thought:
Scam.
Then he said Emily’s Medicaid identification number.
Not the full number.
Last four digits.
He asked whether I had submitted reimbursement requests for in-home habilitation and medical supervision.
“No.”
“How many hours of care does Emily currently receive through her waiver?”
“None.”
Silence.
“Mrs. Foster, I’d like to meet.”
Emily qualified for a limited state Medicaid program secondary to my private insurance because of her epilepsy and prior hospitalization history.
I rarely used it.
A therapy evaluation.
Some equipment.
Never round-the-clock caregiving.
Adrian showed me claims.
Foster Family Support Services.
Provider:
Patricia Foster.
Secondary provider:
Gerald Foster.
Twenty-four-hour respite blocks.
Medication-management visits.
Behavioral supervision.
Emergency seizure monitoring.
Total federal/state reimbursement over thirty months:
$147,600.
I stared.
“My mother-in-law is not Emily’s paid caregiver.”
“Is she trained as one?”
“No.”
“Does Emily live with her?”
“No.”
“Has she ever?”
“Not full time.”
“Did you authorize these?”
“No.”
Then there were payments from Michael’s family trust.
Another $96,400.
Different source.
Same claimed services.
Double billing.
Potentially.
Adrian did not accuse anyone immediately.
He said:
“We investigate records.”
“What do you need from me?”
“Statements. Calendars. School attendance. Proof of residence.”
“Should I confront Patricia?”
“No.”
That was the hardest instruction.
For six weeks, I acted normal around my in-laws while federal investigators compared records.
I almost stopped Emily from staying there during the townhouse repairs.
Then Patricia offered.
Adrian said:
“Do not put your daughter in danger for an investigation.”
May you like
I believed she was not in physical danger.
That belief lasted nineteen days.
