Fairfield Woman Impersonated Health Care Worker, Authorities Say

FAIRFIELD, CT — A Fairfield woman is charged with fraud after she impersonated a certified health care worker and caused Medicaid to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars, authorities said.

Jessica Stuart, 38, pleaded guilty Wednesday to health care fraud and using false identification in connection with health care fraud, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney of the District of Connecticut.

Stuart worked for Helping Hands Academy in Bridgeport, where she performed applied behavioral analysis services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, despite not having the necessary license, certification or any formal training, the news release said. Between about May 2019 and September 2020, Helping Hands Academy paid Stuart at least $143,000 and submitted numerous fraudulent claims to Medicaid, according to the news release, which said Medicaid suffered a loss of nearly $370,000.

Stuart also used a person’s name without their knowledge to impersonate a certified behavior analyst, the news release said.

Stuart faces up to 15 years in prison for the false identification charge and as many as 10 years for the fraud charge, according to the news release. She was freed pending an Aug. 31 sentencing date, the news release said.

The owner of Helping Hands Academy, Nicole Balkas, pleaded guilty April 28 to health care fraud and also awaits sentencing, according to the news release.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. Anyone who suspects health care fraud is encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-447-8477.