NEWARK – The Office of the Attorney General announced today that it is seeking to revoke the registrations of two Hudson County Health Care Service Firms for, among other things, allegedly submitting false, deceptive, or misleading documents to the State and improperly training Homemaker-Home Health Aides (CHHAs) that the companies sent into patient homes.
The action follows an investigation conducted by the Division of Consumer Affairs into NJ Golden Home Care Corporation (“Golden”) and Nora Home Care LLC (“Nora”)—both located in Jersey City—for alleged violations of the Private Employment Agency Act and the related regulations. Parallel investigations into Golden and Nora found their CHHA training programs allegedly were not taught or overseen by an approved Program Instructor and a Program Coordinator, who are tasked with ensuring that training programs meet the required standards. These alleged deficiencies would cause the training programs, and the individuals they trained, to not satisfy the Board’s requirements for certification as a CHHA.
The action announced today is not final; the companies can request a hearing to challenge these allegations and present additional information.
This is the second time the State has taken action against Golden. On November 28, 2018, the Division issued a Notice of Violation to Golden for violations of the Private Employment Agency Act and related regulations. Golden did not contest the violations and paid a $4,000 civil penalty.
As a result of these investigations, the Attorney General has also initiated disciplinary proceedings against individual CHHAs who allegedly obtained their certification without completing the educational requirements mandated by the Board of Nursing (“Board”). Those actions will be adjudicated by the Board, which oversees CHHAs and authorizes all CHHA training programs.
Deputy Attorneys General Donna J. Dorgan of the Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section and Alina Wells of the Professional Boards Prosecution Section in the Division of Law’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Practice Group are representing the State in the matter.
Investigators Maureen P. Browne of the Office of Consumer Protection, and Kathleen Cefalu, Walter Mazariegos and Matthew Conicella assigned to the Enforcement Bureau within the Division of Consumer Affairs conducted the investigation.
Clients of Golden and Nora who have questions should reach out to their health plans:
Aetna Better Health of New Jersey
- Medicaid and Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Members: 1-855-232-3596
- Aetna Assure Premier Plus (HMO D-SNP) members: 1- 844-362-0934
Amerigroup New Jersey: 1-855-661-1996
Horizon:
- Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) members: 1-844-444-4410
- Non-MLTSS members: 1-800-682-9094
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan: 1-800-645-9409
WellCare: 855-642-6185
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The mission of the Division of Consumer Affairs, within the Department of Law and Public Safety, is to protect the public from fraud, deceit, misrepresentation and professional misconduct in the sale of goods and services in New Jersey through education, advocacy, regulation and enforcement. The Division pursues its mission through its 51 professional and occupational boards that oversee 720,000 licensees in the state, its Regulated Business section that oversees 60,000 NJ registered businesses, as well as through its Office of Consumer Protection, Bureau of Securities, Charities Registration section, Office of Weights and Measures, and Legalized Games of Chance section.
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