Medical Transportation Company Accused of Billing the State Using Dead People’s Names

Who was getting rides to medical appointments? Nobody, according to Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office. Who had to foot the bill for those rides? Taxpayers.

Cynthia Keegan, 50, of Webster, was indicted Thursday for allegedly defrauding the state’s Medicaid program of nearly $500,000, claiming her company, Cross Roads Trolley, was giving rides to elderly patients. Keegan is accused of using the names of dead people when filing those claims, however. Keegan is also accused of billing services for other medical trips that never actually happened, Coakley’s office claims.

“We allege that the owner of this company intentionally billed MassHealth for rides that never occurred, or for people who were deceased, stealing thousands of dollars from taxpayers,” Coakley said in a statement. “These services are meant to provide critical transportation for particularly vulnerable residents who need outpatient medical care, not to be repeatedly taken advantage of at taxpayers’ expense.”

Keegan’s company, Cross Roads Trolley, is a privately owned business that provides non-emergency medical transportation services to the elderly via van.

Keegan was indicted by a Worcester County Grand Jury Thursday and is facing seven counts of larceny over $250, and seven counts of Medicaid False Claims.

The investigation into Keegan’s practices, which came after a complaint from MassHealth, showed that the suspect allegedly submitted 1,500 claims using the names of more than 40 individuals after they were dead. She also allegedly billed the state for rides for more than a dozen other elderly patients, which she never actually made.

Of the 1,500 claims, only 152 claims were actually paid out, according to Coakley’s office. Keegan allegedly made the bulk of her money over a five-year period, after she submitted more than 8,300 fraudulent transportation claims for 12 residents at two nursing facilities, and received payments totaling more than $400,000, Coakley said in a statement.