AG Clark announces $480,000 settlement with UCS over public safety failures

Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark announced a settlement with United Counseling Service of Bennington County (UCS) for $483,464, resolving allegations of service failures that created serious safety risks for Medicaid recipients and the public. The investigation, initiated in May 2023 following a complaint from the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living – Developmental Disabilities Services Division (DAIL-DDSD), revealed at least ten cases of ongoing failures in care, monitoring, and oversight of individuals with developmental disabilities who posed public safety risks, particularly concerning sexual violence or crimes against children.

The State’s investigation found that UCS staff were aware of these failures, yet leadership consistently ignored or resisted corrective actions from DAIL. As a consequence, DAIL began the process of removing UCS’s designation to receive further developmental service contracts and initiated the transfer of service recipients to other organizations.

Under the terms of the settlement, UCS will implement significant organizational reforms, including appointing an external oversight monitor, hiring a new director of quality, and publicly reporting corrections for up to three years. Attorney General Clark emphasized the importance of public safety in Medicaid fraud investigations and thanked her team and DAIL for their collaborative efforts in reaching this resolution.

(Source：Bennington Banner)