St. Louis woman admits role in home health care fraud

ST. LOUIS – Prosecutors say a 74-year-old St. Louis woman admitted that she travelled internationally while claiming she was receiving home health care and other services.

Salwa Albayati pleaded guilty Friday to making false statements.

Prosecutors say Albayati signed pre-signed forms so her home health care aides could submit claims that she was receiving services at home. It would maximize the aide’s pay and Albayati would take some of the aide’s salary.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports her aides billed $175,120 between 2013 and June 2018. She also illegally received $27,618 in Social Security benefits and $2,407 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

An investigator said aides went to Albayati’s home only once or twice a week to water her plants, clean, and pick up the mail when she was out of town.

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com