Georgia officials say a Marietta-area lab billed Medicaid for genetic screening tests that doctors allegedly never ordered and that, in numerous cases, patients had not even supplied DNA samples for.
Attorney General Chris Carr announced on June 5 that his Medicaid Fraud and Patient Protection Division brought both a civil complaint and a criminal indictment against Maged Awad, 61, of Marietta, alleging false or fraudulent genetic-testing claims to Georgia Medicaid.
The civil complaint also names K&S Clinical Diagnostics Consulting Services, LLC, the clinical laboratory that state officials say Awad operated. The indictment alleges more than $300,000 in Georgia Medicaid payments tied to genetic-testing claims, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
The indictment and complaint contain allegations only. Awad is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, and the AG’s office said there has been no finding or admission of liability concerning the civil allegations.
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Georgia Says Patients Had Not Even Provided DNA Samples
The civil complaint alleges that from May 2020 through at least June 2024, Awad and K&S knowingly submitted false claims to Georgia Medicaid for genetic screening tests that lacked legitimate physician orders.
The most unusual allegation involves the samples themselves. The Attorney General’s Office said that in numerous instances, the patients for whom tests were supposedly conducted had not provided DNA samples to be tested.
The complaint was brought under the Georgia False Medicaid Claims Act, according to the AG’s office.
The Indictment Alleges More Than $300,000 in Medicaid Payments
The criminal indictment, returned in Cobb County, alleges that Awad fraudulently caused more than $300,000 in payments from Georgia Medicaid through genetic-testing claims.
According to the AG’s office, the claims falsely identified certain medical professionals as having ordered tests they never requested.
Awad faces three counts of Medicaid fraud.
FOX 5 Atlanta reported that defense attorneys for Awad had not publicly released a statement about how they planned to respond to the criminal counts or civil complaint. FOX 5 also reported that specific trial dates had not been scheduled at the time of publication.
Earlier Court Records Put the Payments Above $307,000
East Cobb News reported in March that Awad had been indicted by a Cobb Superior Court grand jury on Feb. 26.
The outlet, citing court records, reported that K&S Clinical Diagnostics was located on North Park Place off Windy Hill Road and received more than $307,000 in payments for genetic screening tests between March 18, 2022, and June 24, 2023.
East Cobb News also reported that a bench warrant was issued the day after the indictment, that Awad was booked at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on March 11, and that he was released later that day after posting a $110,220 bond.
The Case Has Criminal and Civil Tracks
The criminal indictment focuses on the Medicaid fraud counts against Awad. The civil complaint names both Awad and K&S Clinical Diagnostics Consulting Services, LLC.
Carr said the case is part of his office’s broader work targeting fraud, waste, and abuse in Georgia Medicaid involving genetic testing schemes.
“This is just one step in our ongoing efforts to fight fraud that exploits patients and the Medicaid program at large,” Carr said in the announcement. “We won’t hesitate to take both civil and criminal action to ensure that taxpayer dollars are appropriately safeguarded and only serve the legitimate needs of our citizens.”
The AG’s Medicaid Fraud and Patient Protection Division says it has secured more than 100 convictions for Medicaid fraud and abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults since Carr took office. The division also says it has obtained more than $138 million in civil settlements and judgments tied to its Medicaid-protection work.
The Allegations Are Not a Conviction
The Attorney General’s Office said the indictment and complaint contain allegations only.
Awad is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, and the government has the burden at trial to prove the criminal allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
The AG’s office also said there has been no finding or admission of liability concerning the civil allegations.