?I?m proud to announce yet another example of my office?s commitment to enforcing the law and protecting our Medicaid and Medicare programs,? said Attorney General Paxton. ?We will continue to press forward to preserve the integrity of these vital programs by ensuring that unscrupulous actors looking to defraud Texans are caught and punished.??
Caroline Zamora, 63, and Rommel Zamora, 59, both residents of Houston, were indicted for an $8.7 million fraud scheme connected to their jointly-owned and operated home health company, 24/7 Stat Care Home Health Services Inc., also known as Parkway Healthcare Services (?Parkway?).??
?
The indictment alleges that the couple conspired to pay illegal cash kickbacks to Medicare patients and doctors who would sign patients up for home health services with Parkway. Further, the couple is alleged to have fraudulently billed Medicare for home health services that were not provided and for patients who did not qualify for such services. Parkway billed Medicare $8.7 million and was paid $6.7 million.
?
In addition to paying restitution, Caroline and Rommel Zamora face up to 10 years in prison on each count of health care fraud, a $250,000 fine for each count, and five years for the conspiracy.?
?
Captain Rick McCollum, Sergeant Joyce Combest, and Investigative Auditor Kalpana Patel of Attorney General Paxton?s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the investigation in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services? Office of Inspector General and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Abdul Farukhi, who serves as both an Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant United States Attorney.?
