CLEVELAND, Ohio — A Northeast Ohio physician pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges in a Medicare fraud case. The case involved fake orders for medical equipment, which he approved without ever examining patients, the Department of Justice said.
Mohammed Ahmad, 38, of Avon, entered his plea after being charged with making false statements related to health care matters. His role in the scheme led to more than $267,000 in fraudulent Medicare claims, with roughly $126,000 ultimately paid out, according to the DOJ.
Court records say Ahmad, licensed in Ohio since 2014, contracted with Florida-based company Lifeline Recruiting Inc. to review and sign off on durable medical equipment orders, primarily orthotic braces, the DOJ said. But prosecutors say he approved pre-filled forms without conducting exams or performing the medical tests he claimed to have done.
Between November 2018 and May 2019, Ahmad’s authorizations helped the company submit false claims to Medicare, a federal program that primarily serves people age 65 and older, prosecutors and court records say. Authorities say 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, with sentencing yet to be scheduled.
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