MBA NonProfit Solutions Ripped off Medicaid funds from my disabled son, made false claims of neglect out of malice Silver Spring, Maryland
Last year (June 2011) we had hired MBA Non Profit Solutions, Inc. to provide management services to our disabled son, they were referred to us by my son's Service Coordinator through Service Coordination, inc. Little did we know the owners of this company "Marco" and Laura Fisher, had never provided this specific service to disabled persons before, yet they were demanding to be paid $55.00 per hour with several thousand dollars for start up fees. This amount totally exceeded the highest allowable amount by the state which sent up the first red flag for me in dealing with this company.
They had no experience and wanted to be paid top dollar which would typically be paid to someone with at least SOME previous experience and references to provide in this specific area of service. Once we negotiated through the fact that they would be paid the allowable amount per the sate guidelines, Laura Fisher continued to be unavailbe, taking weeks to even get a return phone call and would only show up on payday, then we wouldn't see her again for weeks.
There was always an excuse from I sprained my ankle, my car broke down, I was in a class, I lost my phone, etc. None of these reasons were excuse enough to not return phone calls and/or e-mails for weeks on end. Laura did all of her work remotely which was completely fruitless, but I had no way to prove that her time sheets were falsified other than the fact that there were absolutely no results from the supposed hours she worked and the thousands of dollars she was paid for accomplishing nothing.
Once we realized that this company was out for money and not the best interest of our disabled son, we decided to cut our losses and terminated our contract with them in November, 2011. After firing Laura and having to repeatedly remind her that she was violating HIPPA by contacting my sons service providers after our contract was terminated, she moved on to file a false accusation to the sate that we were neglecting our son. Her only claim would be how much time we actually spent in my sons room with him and his nurses and/or staff ,and the last time I checked, that's not neglect.
Every one of my children are extremely well cared for and loved. Of course the complaint was dropped due to lack of reason, lack of evidence, and the dozens of character and witness statements we would have readily available, but the fact that she would attack a family like this shows complete lack of empathy and compassion for the lives of our disabled and their families.
MBA Non Profit Solutions, Inc. should not be in business and they should not be allowed to profit from the disabled. They feel is okay to squander money from the disabled and then attack them when they can't make any more money off of them. This is outrageous and if I help only one family from going through what we did, then it was definitely worth my time to make this complaint against MBA Non Profit Solutions, Inc!
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Hmm
Silver Spring,Maryland,
United States of America
MBA NonProfit is a great company
#2REBUTTAL Owner of company
Mon, March 12, 2012
I was really concerned to find such untruths said about me and my company. However I am more than happy to address the concerns of "Brenda" from "Elkridge".
It is quite true that we were recruited by DDA to work for this particular client. You don't get referred without experience. For about six months I met with the parents of this client on and off before being hired. One time even included the child's IEP. I was NOT paid for any of these meetings.
If the family were to talk to other families being served, they would know that $55.00 an hour is not a maximum and I was actually reimbursed at $45.00 per hour, not the $55.00, per our agreed contract. Way below the minium. We agreed on this with the understanding that the budget would eventually be increased to allow for the $55.00 per hour. They claim I started getting reimbursed in June, well that was when the first agreement was presented but not signed. From March of 2011 until October 2011 MBA received a total of $1800.00. I can provide documentation. Can you imagine working for 9 months for that amount of pay? That is billing for 40 hours in nine months. Many hours were provided but never reimbursed or paid for. Honesty is the best policy.
When being referred to this family we were forwarned that they could be difficult by their other supports but because of their child and their disabilities and other family issues we were willing to help. The main area of need was staffing. The family had been struggling with this and had been searching for staff and unable to acquire them for about a year. Within 3 months I had set up interviews for several qualified staff to provide care for their child. This time frame did not satisfy the family. Mom had contacted the casemanager stating that I was doing nothing. I then sent the advertisments and potential staff correspondence to the casemanager, as well as communication documentation with the father. The current staff they had had several concerns but the family maintained that they should be grateful because they were being paid "above the regular rate of pay". Very few of the concerns had anything to do with pay. And yes, there were times when I was unavailable. I am not on call 24 hours a day. There was 1 week I was away in a training in another State, my car didn't break down, I was in a serious car accident and I broke my foot. Sometimes in life, incidents can be out of your control. In some instances that they claim I was not there for them, I had not even actually been hired yet. What they didnt say is that when their child went in for a procedure I was on the phone non stop contacting his other supports to make sure everything was ok. I had the other supports calling voicing concerns. That every time I tried to do my job they would take over. That communication between the two parents had broken down, and one would not realize it was handled or I had spoke with/contacted the other. I'm sure they felt that they did more but they are his parents and have chosen to care for their disabled child at home and it's to be expected.
I held a staff meeting off premises for the current staff and that is when things went down hill. I was shocked by one of the parents behavior with one staff and the fact that the family spent 5 minutes or less a day with their disabled child. The family can say this is their right and it is but don't be upset when it is said out loud.
When I was told they no longer wanted my services I wrote a summary for DDA. That is not breaking HIPPA nor is it unusual. Actually, it's expected. When the payor of the State Funds requested documentation for an employee, I forwarded to the child's casemanager to take care of. She instructed me to send it to the Payor of the State funds, so I did, there was no need to penalize the staff. Faxing that time sheet was in no way breaking the HIPPA requirements. Sending that time sheet was the last contact I made regarding anything to do with providing services for their child and it was done at the direction of the State. I have not discussed their case with or contacted anyone.
I was let go in November. By law, you have to give 30 days notice. I could have billed and been paid for November and December but I did not. It was never about the money. However, not working for them anymore was mutually agreeable, so it would have been unfair to bill for those additional months.
We have served several clients who are more than happy with our services. It's never good when it doesn't work out but you need everyone to be willing open, honest and compromising. MBA tried to be. What the family did not understand was that their child was ultimately our biggest concern and to whom our loyalty belonged.
I would be more than happy to meet with this family and their child's casemanager to address any concerns that they maintain. I am not willing to have untruths posted on the internet. I believe that sites such as this are very good ones. They help verify that no matter what you do in some people's eyes, it's never good enough. It also gets both sides of the story out there.
I wish the family well and hope that they have all the success necessary to find the help and supports their child will need now and in the future.
Sincerely,
Laura N. Fisher
Vice-President
MBA NonProfit Solutions