A Texas physician made headlines this week after pleading guilty to his role in a multi-million-dollar COVID-19 test fraud scheme, netting him a whopping $5.5 million.
Mark Mazzare, 57, of Tyler, Texas, submitted claims to Medicare for over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 test kits that were never needed or requested by the beneficiaries. The scheme, which began in November 2022 and continued until June 2023, saw Medicare pay out approximately $3.44 million on those claims.
According to court documents, Mazzare purchased Medicare beneficiary identifiers (BINs) that were used to bill Medicare millions of dollars for OTC COVID-19 test kits. He then entered into a sham agreement with a marketer to conceal the purchase of BINs as “lead packages”, which in reality consisted of BINs and fraudulently generated audio recordings purporting to be the voices of the beneficiaries requesting the OTC COVID-19 tests.
Mazzare caused OTC COVID-19 tests to be shipped to Medicare beneficiaries whose BINs had been purchased, regardless of whether the Medicare beneficiaries had requested or needed the tests.
Mazzare pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and to purchase, sell, and distribute Medicare beneficiary identification numbers. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
A sentencing hearing will be set at a later date, when a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being investigated by the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), with significant assistance provided by the Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Related Federal Cases
- Juan A. Tony Marrero, Medicare Fraud Scheme, Miami FL, 2023 · Texas
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- Mark C. Simpson, Child Support Fraud and Drug Conspiracy, Atlanta G… · North Carolina
- Mark C. Simpson, Child Support Collection Fraud, Lake Park GA, 2023 · Puerto Rico
- Emiel A. Kandi, Mortgage Fraud Scheme, WA, 2023 · Kansas
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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