“People paying for in-home health care services for their loved ones have a right to expect those services will be tailored to meet their loved ones’ needs, and will be provided by qualified individuals working under proper supervision,” said Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino. “Firms that fail to meet these standards are not only violating the trust of their clients, they’re breaking the law.”

Health Care Service Firms (HCSFs) are defined as businesses that “place or arrange for the placement of personnel to provide companion services, health care, or personal care services in the personal residence of a person with a disability or a senior citizen age 60 or older.” The firms must be registered with the Division of Consumer Affairs, and are inspected and investigated for compliance by the Office of Consumer Protection’s Health Care Service Firm Investigative Unit.  The Unit was formed in 2014 to ensure that a cadre of investigators with specialized knowledge could undertake meaningful investigations to protect vulnerable senior and disabled population receiving services in their homes.

The Unit’s investigators cover the entire State of New Jersey handling initial and follow up inspections of over 1,000 HCSFs and undertaking investigations of HCSFs when they appear to be violating the law. The NOVs announced today are a result of inspections and investigations conducted by the Unit.

The 36 agencies were assessed penalties ranging from $1,000 to $23,850 for a variety of alleged violations that fall into three categories:

Certain firms on the list have cooperated with the Division of Consumer Affairs by entering into Consent Orders for the payment of penalties.

Each of the firms receiving an NOV has the opportunity to contest the assertion that it has violated the law, or the opportunity to correct the violation by ending from any practices in violation of the law, paying a civil penalty, and submitting an application for registration, if not registered.

Advice for Consumers Seeking a Health Care Service Firm for At-Home Care:

Consumers seeking assistance from a firm for at-home care should contact the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs to ensure that the firm is registered with the Division, and whether it has been the subject of consumer complaints.  Consumers should also ask the Division to verify whether individual nurses or CHHAs provided by the agency are licensed or certified by the State Board of Nursing.
Consumers can find additional information in these documents, available free of charge at the Division’s website:

Investigators Ronald Regen, Barby Menna, John Kulina, and Ray Yee of the Office of Consumer Protection’s Health Care Service Firm Investigative Unit conducted these investigations.

Deputy Attorneys General from the Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section within the Division of Law are representing the State in these actions.

Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed by a business, or suspect any other form of consumer abuse, can file an online complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504- 6200.

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