Tyler doctor admits role in $5.5 million COVID-19 scheme

SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler physician pled guilty on Monday in connection to his role in a $5.5 million over-the-counter COVID-19 test fraud scheme according to our news partner KETK.

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Mark Mazzare, 57 of Tyler, purchased Medicare beneficiary identifiers (BINs) used to bill Medicare millions of dollars for test kits that had not been requested by the beneficiaries. Texas Medical Board’s records indicate that Mazzare is an internal medicine/pediatric specialist and worked at a clinic on Old Bullard Road in Tyler.

“Mazzare entered into a sham agreement with a purported 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,” DOJ said. “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.”

From November 2022 to June 2023, Mazzare caused more than $5.5 million in claims to be submitted to Medicare for the COVID-19 tests that were unnecessary and ineligible for reimbursement with Medicare paying approximately $3.44 million on those claims.

Mazzare pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and to purchase, sell and distribute Medicare beneficiary identification numbers. A sentencing hearing will be set at a later date where he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

As of now, the Texas Medical Board has not rescinded his license to practice.