December 16, 2020

Texas resident Rodney Mesquias, the former owner and officer of hospice services provider Merida Group, was sentenced to 20 years in prison following his conviction on fraud charges.  According to the evidence at trial, Mesquias falsely told thousands of individuals and their families that they had less than six months to live, so that he could enroll them in hospice programs, denying them from accessing curative care.  Mesquias also paid kickbacks to physicians for referring patients with long-term diseases such as Alzheimers and dementia.  Over  nearly ten years, Mesquias’ scheme resulted in the submission of $150 million in false and fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary services.  DOJ

Tagged in: Criminal Proceedings, Healthcare Fraud, Home Health and Hospice, Lack of Medical Necessity,