Detroit Home Health Agency Founder Pleads Guilty to $22 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

The founder of three Detroit-area home health agencies has pleaded guilty in federal court for his role in a $22 million home health care fraud scheme involving kickbacks, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced this week. 

Tayyab Aziz, 45, of Homer Glen, Ill., pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Michigan to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

Aziz founded three Detroit-area home health care agencies, Prestige Home Health Services Inc., Royal Home Health Care Inc., and Platinum Home Health Services Inc. Using these companies, Aziz admitted in his plea agreement that he orchestrated a conspiracy to defraud Medicare through fraudulent billings for home health care services.

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Aziz admitted he and his co-conspirators submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare for services that were medically unnecessary or never performed. They also allegedly submitted claims for services purportedly provided to Medicare beneficiaries who were recruited through illegal kickbacks paid to the patients and recruiters.

To conceal the fraud, Aziz admitted that he and his co-conspirators created fictitious physical therapy files to document physical therapy and other services that had not actually been provided and were not medically necessary. Aziz also allegedly created and submitted falsified records to the Michigan Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) in order for Prestige and Platinum to remain accredited Medicare providers.

As a result of Aziz’s fraudulent conduct, Medicare paid approximately $1.9 million. Five of six other defendants in this case have also previously pleaded guilty.

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Aziz’s sentencing is scheduled for March 3, 2015. 

Written by Emily Study