Nebraska Sued Home Health Providers Over Medicaid Fraud
Owners of two Omaha home health firms face charges for allegedly concealing felony history to bill Medicaid.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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The State of Nebraska has filed a lawsuit against the operators of Kind of Heart That Cares Home Health and Abria Home Health for alleged Medicaid fraud. Between 2021 and 2025, the defendants reportedly submitted 13,530 claims totaling nearly $3 million.
Why it matters
The state alleges the operators obscured the ownership of the entities to bypass DHHS provider ineligibility rules stemming from felony convictions. This case highlights the heightened scrutiny facing home health agencies regarding administrative compliance and the verification of provider credentials.
The state lawsuit details 13,530 submitted claims that resulted in $2,987,284.90 in payments, with prosecutors seeking $8,961,854.70 in total damages. Each false claim is subject to a potential civil penalty of $10,000.
The players
Keith Forte
An individual named as a defendant in a Medicaid fraud lawsuit who operated home health companies in Omaha.
Kind of Heart That Cares Home Health
An Omaha-based provider registered in 2019 that is currently named in a state Medicaid fraud lawsuit.
Abria Home Health
A home health company registered in 2022 that shares an office address with a related entity and faces state fraud allegations.
The details
Prosecutors claim Keith Forte acted as the public face for two Omaha-based home health agencies to hide his mother's ownership. By omitting her name from state filings, the companies allegedly bypassed DHHS vetting procedures that would have barred her due to prior felony convictions. The state asserts this allowed the firms to bill Medicaid for services while she remained legally ineligible to serve as a provider.
Timeline
Kind of Heart That Cares Home Health was registered in 2019.
Abria Home Health was registered in 2022.
The defendants submitted claims to Medicaid from 2021 through 2025.
Keith Forte was booked into Douglas County Corrections on October 11, 2026.
Market Landscape
This litigation underscores the strict enforcement of Medicaid provider enrollment eligibility requirements. It follows a pattern of state regulatory bodies intensifying scrutiny on the ownership and disclosure practices of small, private healthcare providers.
Operators in the home health sector should prioritize transparent ownership and background disclosures to avoid triggering severe civil penalties. Businesses must ensure that all administrative filings match actual entity control to maintain eligibility for state-funded reimbursements.
The takeaway
The state's pursuit of nearly $9 million in damages serves as a stark warning regarding the financial risks of deceptive provider enrollment. Owners should verify their firm's compliance documentation annually to ensure no ineligible individuals are acting in ownership or management capacities.
Further reading
For more on regulatory standards, visit Nursing Jobs.
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Do you trust the oversight of Medicaid programs to prevent large-scale fraud by healthcare providers?
