Former Texas Hospital CFO Charged With Fraud

Joe White, former CFO of Shelby Regional Medical Center in Center, Texas, has been indicted with alleged fraud and aggravated identity theft violations in the U.S. District Court, Eastern Division in Texas, according to a KETK NBC report.

Shelby Regional was one of the hospitals operated by Tariq Mahmood, MD, all of which were shut down after Dr. Mahmood was investigated for Medicare fraud.

Mr. White allegedly claimed the hospital had met CMS' electronic health record meaningful use requirements for the 2012 fiscal year. CMS paid Shelby Regional $785,655 for its alleged attestation of MU compliance. Hospitals operated by Dr. Mahmood were paid approximately $16.8 million through CMS' MU incentive program for fiscal years 2011 and 2012.

According to the report, Shelby Regional mainly used paper records, but Mr. White allegedly instructed Shelby Regional's software vendors and employees to put data in the EHR, allegedly sometimes months after the patient was discharged, to keep the appearance that they were using it.

Additionally, Mr. White allegedly used another person's name and information when falsely attesting Shelby Regional's meaningful use to CMS, according to the report.

More Articles on Healthcare Fraud:

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CMS to Fine, Exclude Providers Who Repeatedly Abuse Medicare

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