On Thursday, a physician from Northeast Ohio pleaded guilty to federal charges of Medicare fraud. The case involved fake medical equipment orders that he approved without ever examining patients, according to the Department of Justice.
Mohammed Ahmad, 38, of Avon, entered his plea after being charged with making false statements about health care issues. According to the DOJ, his role in the scheme resulted in more than $267,000 in fraudulent Medicare claims, with approximately $126,000 paid out in total.
According to court records, Ahmad, who has been licensed in Ohio since 2014, worked with Florida-based Lifeline Recruiting Inc. to review and sign off on durable medical equipment orders, primarily orthotic braces, the DOJ stated.
However, prosecutors claim he approved pre-filled forms without conducting exams or performing the medical tests he claimed to have done.
According to prosecutors and court records, Ahmad’s authorizations enabled the company to submit false claims to Medicare, a federal program that primarily serves people aged 65 and older, from November 2018 to May 2019.
Authorities allege that the scheme used call centers to target Medicare beneficiaries, collect their information, and generate leads.
Ahmad now faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and his sentencing has yet to be scheduled.
