On April 11, 2013, a federal grand jury indicted 61-year-old Tariq Mahmood, of Cedar Hill, on a charge of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and seven counts of healthcare fraud. Mahmood went before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love on April 23 for an initial appearance.
On April 11, 2013, a federal grand jury indicted 61-year-old Tariq Mahmood, of Cedar Hill, on a charge of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and seven counts of healthcare fraud. Mahmood went before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love on April 23 for an initial appearance.
Mahmood was the owner and operator of Renaissance Hospital in Terrell, Texas, before it was shut down on February 12, 2013. The hospital closed after several healthcare violations caused the death of two patients and a failure to pay taxes owed to Kaufman County.
At the time of the hospital's closing, Medicaid and Medicare funding was also terminated. David Wright, Deputy Regional Administrator, said “The action was in response to numerous documented concerns about the hospital's inability to provide safe patient care in accordance with Medicare's basic health and safety requirements.” The hospital's license was also proposed to be revoked by the Texas Department of State Health Services in response to the two patient deaths and other healthcare violations.
According to the federal grand jury indictment sheet, Mahmood also owned and operated four other hospitals in Texas, including Cozby Germany Hospital in Grand Saline, Central Texas Hospital in Cameron, Community General Hospital in Dilley, and Shelby Regional Medical Center in Center.
Mahmood and others allegedly submitted fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid claims of more than $1.15 million and obtained more than $375,000. According to the indictment, between April 2010 and April 2013, “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.”
If convicted, Mahmood faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each charge.
