Owner Of Enfield Behavioral Health Agency Charged With Fraud

ENFIELD, CT — The president of an Enfield-based behavioral health clinician group was arrested Monday in connection with an investigation into fraudulent billing of the government's Medicaid health insurance program.

Marcy L. Taliceo, 45, was charged with one count each of first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community and health insurance fraud. She was released on a $150,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear March 23 in Hartford Superior Court.

Inspectors from the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Chief State's Attorney determined between March 2016 and Aug. 2020, Taliceo was president, treasurer and secretary of Growing Potential Services (GPS), based at 25 High St. in Enfield. During this period, she billed for treatment provided by unlicensed individuals, and also for services provided while clients were hospitalized or she was out of the state, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Investigators found GPS was paid by the Connecticut Medicaid Program for psychotherapy services by unlicensed individuals in the amount of $141,835.63. In addition, the agency was paid $6,741.02 for services that were not rendered, as the clients were hospitalized or Taliceo was out of state on the date billed. The total amount of fraud charged is $148,576.65, according to the affidavit.

Taliceo was recently named vice chair of the Independent Party of Enfield, a third political party formed as Voices for Enfield during a contentious municipal election season in 2019. She unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the Board of Education in 2019 on the Voices for Enfield line, and as a Democrat in 2017.

First-degree larceny by defrauding a public community is a class B felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Health insurance fraud is an unclassified felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, according to the Office of the Chief State's Attorney.

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