Dr Tariq Mahmood charged with health care fraud

DALLAS: The FBI has arrested a famous Pakistani heart specialist Dr. Tariq Mahmood MD for false and fraudulent claims of more than million of dollars submitted to US Health department.

The accused has been indicted and may face seven counts of crime each carrying 10 years, totaling 70 years all together if convicted.

According to available detailed, the American department of justice with the help of FBI and other Federal department has arrested a Pakistani Dr. Tariq Mahmood MD also a heart specialist against fraud.

Dr. Tariq owned and operate in several hospitals in the state of Texas, including Cozby Germany Hospital in Grand Saline, Renaissance Terrell Hospital in Terrell, Central Texas Hospital in Cameron, Community General Hospital in Dilley, and Shelby Regional Medical Center in Center.

All established in the US state of Texas. The reported allegations against Dr. Tariq is that in several hospitals functioning under his management had prepared a fraudulent scheme between 2010 to 2013. Under the scheme the two programs Medicare and Medicaid being run under the supervision of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

He was preparing schemes based on fraud and swindle and issuing of bogus claims for counterfeit prescriptions. And thus he obtained a huge amount through fraud and deception.

According to a press release issued by US Justice Department From April 2010 to April 2013, Dr Tariq Mahmood and others are alleged to have carried out a scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid through the submission of false and fraudulent claims.

Mahmood and others added, changed, deleted, and incorrectly sequenced diagnostic codes in a way that did not reflect the actual diagnoses and conditions of the patients. By means of fraudulent billing practices, the defendant and his co-conspirators are alleged to have unlawfully submitted false claims of more than $1.1 million and obtained more than $375,000.

The FBI has registered the fraud case against the accused under seven clauses. If convicted, Mahmood faces up to 70 years, 10 years in federal prison for each charge.

The federal grand jury has also indicted Dr. Tariq Mahmood. He appeared before US Magistrate Judge John D. Love for an initial appearance and denied the authenticity of crimes.

Dr Tariq was freed on $25,000 bond. He also denied the allegations.

The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by agents from the Texas Office of the Attorney General - Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (OAG-MFCU), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the US Department of Health and Human Services - Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld is prosecuting this case.

On the other hand it has been learned that the main accused Dr. Tariq Mahmood is graduated from a King Edward Medical college Lahore, Pakistan and is 61 years old. His business is spread not only in Dallas and Texas states hospitals that else where he is having big businesses.

Last month the hospitals being run under his control Renaissance Hospital Terrell was shut for patient care failures after inspectors said reckless care caused the death of two patients and endangered others. Inspection report I obtained from CMS shows the 102-bed hospital has violated 15 safety regulations, state officials also said to local media that they've been closely investigating the hospital for months as conditions worsened and extremely concerned that this is not a safe environment for patients which is pursuing a $35,000 fine against the hospital in addition to the license revocation.

Whereas, Department of Justice has appealed to the people that anybody having any proof or important information about the frauds is encouraged to contact the Department of Health and Human Services' fraud hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (447-8477).