Michigan Home Health Agency Owner Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud Charges

The owner of a Michigan home health agency 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. 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.

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.

The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case, which was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. DOJ

Tagged in: Anti-Kickback and Stark, Healthcare Fraud, Home Health and Hospice, Medicare,