A federal jury convicted Simon Katz, an operator and co-defendant tied to Health Now Home Healthcare, Inc. of Hayward, in a $3 million Medicare fraud scheme involving unprovided services and falsified records, prompting state suspension of the company.

A federal jury has convicted Simon Katz, an operator and co-defendant in the case against Hayward-based Health Now Home Healthcare, Inc., of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. Prosecutors detailed a scheme that defrauded Medicare of over $3 million by billing for in-home services that were never provided and relying on falsified patient records, according to reporting by SFGate and Hoodline.

Health Now Home Healthcare, Inc., officially incorporated in California, operates from 23591 Foley Street, Hayward (per opengovus.com). The company, which maintains an active California Department of Public Health home health agency license since March 1, 2016, was originally established in 2014 as Home Healthcare, Inc., before rebranding in 2015. While the specific federal court case number and the precise date of the jury's verdict beyond "Wednesday" remain undisclosed as of this report, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI have been investigating the company's billing practices.

The California Division of Workers’ Compensation previously moved to suspend Health Now Home Healthcare, Inc.'s participation in state programs, according to the California Department of Industrial Relations' public suspension list (dir.ca.gov), citing the ongoing federal criminal proceedings regarding the fraud conviction. The conviction of Katz underscores regulatory scrutiny on the home healthcare sector and the financial safeguards surrounding federal health programs.

Veronica Katz, identified as an owner, operator, and the company's CEO, was also convicted and sentenced to two years in federal prison, according to Home Health Care News and a U.S. Attorney's Office press release. She was also ordered to pay $543,634.34 in restitution and a $50,000 fine. What remains to be seen are the sentencing details for Simon Katz and any further civil or criminal actions against Health Now Home Healthcare, Inc. or its other officers.