Two convicted in home health fraud scheme

DETROIT (AP) — Federal authorities say two Ypsilanti residents have been convicted for their roles in a $33 million Medicare fraud scheme involving home health care.

The U.S. Department of Justice says 49-year-old Zafar Mehmood and 48-year-old Badar Ahmadani were convicted Monday on federal charges including conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks.

Prosecutors accused Mehmood and Ahmadani of getting patients by paying cash kickbacks to recruiters, who then gave cash to patients to persuade them to sign up with Mehmood’s companies.

Authorities say the two also gave kickbacks to physicians to refer patients to their companies for unnecessary home health services.

The Justice Department says evidence also showed the two defendants and co-conspirators falsified records to show patients qualified for and received services, billing Medicare more than $33 million.