Two Houston residents are facing charges related to an alleged $8.7 million fraud scheme connected to a home health company they jointly owned and operated, according to a U.S. Department of Justice release March 24, 2023.
Caroline Zamora, 63, and Rommel Zamora, 59, are accused of conspiring to pay illegal cash kickbacks to Medicare patients to sign up for home health services with their company from early 2014 to late 2018. The Zamoras are also alleged to have conspired to pay kickbacks to doctors to certify and refer patients for home health who did not qualify.
The indictment further alleges the Zamoras fraudulently billed Medicare for home health services that were not provided or for patients who did not qualify for such services. Parkway billed Medicare $8.7M and was paid $6.7M, according to the indictment.
If convicted, both face up to 10 years in prison on each count of health care fraud in addition to another five years for the conspiracy. All counts also carry as possible punishment a maximum $250,000 fine.