Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today announced that Aqua Vision Care, LLC, a vision care provider located in Pikesville, has agreed to pay $143,336.00 to resolve allegations under the Maryland False Health Claims Act. The settlement addresses claims that Aqua Vision, in partnership with licensed optometrist Kelechi Mezu Nnabue, submitted or caused the submission of fraudulent Medicaid claims for vision services that were never provided to recipients.
The allegations center around claims submitted for eye exams that were either unnecessary or not performed. Aqua Vision, which operates on the 1000 block of Reisterstown Road in Pikesville, repeatedly billed Medicaid for eye exams, sometimes submitting multiple claims for the same recipients in a single month. Medicaid coverage is limited to one optometric exam per year for recipients under the age of 21, and one exam every two years for those 21 and older, unless a waiver for medical necessity is granted.
Under the terms of the settlement, Aqua Vision will pay restitution of $71,668.00 for the unprovided services, as well as a civil penalty of $71,668.00. The total settlement amount of $143,336.00 resolves the Medicaid fraud allegations and ensures accountability for the fraudulent billing practices.
“I want to commend the dedicated work of the Medicaid Fraud and Vulnerable Victims Unit for their efforts in uncovering these fraudulent activities,” said Attorney General Brown. “This settlement sends a clear message that the State of Maryland is committed to protecting the integrity of the Medicaid program and holding healthcare providers accountable for any fraudulent actions that undermine public trust and misuse taxpayer funds.”
The Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud and Vulnerable Victims Unit receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant of $6,845,828 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $2,281,939 for FY 2025, is funded by the State of Maryland.
