Michigan Home Health Agency Owner Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud Charges for Role in $8 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme | WPN World People News

The owner of a Michigan home health agency, on May 17, pleaded guilty to fraud charges for his role in a scheme involving approximately $8 million in fraudulent Medicare claims for home health services that were procured through the payment of illegal kickbacks.

Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Schneider of the Eastern District of Michigan, Special Agent in Charge Timothy Slater of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office made the announcement.

Zahir Shah, 48, of West Bloomfield, Michigan, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks in connection with Medicare beneficiaries before U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn of the Eastern District of Michigan. Sentencing will be scheduled before Judge Cohn.

As part of his guilty plea, Shah admitted that he submitted false certifications to enroll and stay enrolled as a Medicare provider. Shah further admitted that he paid illegal kickbacks to recruiters in exchange for Medicare beneficiary referrals and billed Medicare for claims procured through these illegal kickbacks. According to court documents, Shah caused a loss of approximately $8 million to the Medicare program by submitting false and fraudulent claims to Medicare from 2007 through 2017.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice