Petros Fichidzhyan, 44, of Granada Hills, California, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in a mulit-year scheme to defraud Medicare of more than $17 million. Fichidzhyan committed the fraud through “sham” hospice companies and a home health company that he owned, according to the […]
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) is readying to unveil a new report that will unveil common billing trends among potentially fraudulent newly licensed hospices. The report, “Trends, Patterns, and Key Comparisons Related to New Medicare Hospice Provider Enrollments May Indicate the Need for Further Oversight” is […]
A federal jury has convicted Eduardo Lopez, a former Nevada hospice executive, for his involvement in a wage-fixing conspiracy, as well as five counts of wire fraud. Potential sentencing includes several years of imprisonment and millions in criminal fees. Lopez in 2023 was charged with agreeing to suppress and eliminate competition for home health and […]
Among the numerous tactics that unscrupulous hospices use to commit fraud, three are rising to the forefront. Four states have garnered national attention as fraud hotbeds — Arizona, California, Nevada and Texas. These regions have seen swarms of new hospices emerging and receiving Medicare dollars. Numerous reports of unethical or illegal practices have surfaced, particularly […]
A Texas-based physician recently entered a settlement to pay nearly half a million dollars for their alleged involvement in a hospice kickback scheme that transpired roughly four years ago. Dr. John Patterson agreed to pay $486,626 to resolve allegations of kickback payments received from Nursemind Home Care. Patterson is accused of certifying patients for hospice […]
Saad Enterprises Inc., doing business as Saad Healthcare, has agreed to pay $3 million to settle alleged False Claims Act violations. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability, according to the U.S. Justice Department. The hospice was accused of knowingly submitting Medicare claims for patients […]
A guilty plea has been filed in a hospice fraud scheme that allegedly bilked Medicare for $17 million in false claims. Petros Fichidzhyan pleaded guilty to charges of health care fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering in connection with the Medicare fraud case involving multiple California-based hospice and home health companies. Fichidzhyan was among […]
A Ventura County, California, physician has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for Medicare fraud for medically unnecessary hospice services. Dr. Victor Contreras worked for two hospices in Pasadena California — Arcadia Hospice Provider Inc., and Saint Mariam Hospice Inc. The owner of those companies, Jaunita Antenor, is a co-defendant in the case. […]
A California hospice owner and a freelance marketer have been convicted of Medicare fraud, totaling $3.2 million, and anti-kickback statute violations. Nita Palma of Glendale, California, in 2025 purchased Magnolia Gardens Hospice through her daughter and concealed her ownership from Medicare, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Palma had previously been banned from the Medicare […]
Hospices have grown increasingly frustrated by fraudulent operators in the space and how their activities affect legitimate operators’ financial health. This is the second of a two-part Hospice News series that explores how fraud, waste and abuse in the hospice space could create headwinds for the industry at large. Fraudsters misspend millions of Medicare dollars […]
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