U.S. News
Hospice Fraud Claims Tie LA Physician to Millions in Medicare Bills
Clear Facts
- Dr. Rajiv Bhuva is under intense scrutiny after being linked to 2,791 Medicare hospice claims across 126 California facilities in a single year.
- Those claims resulted in about $71.7 million in taxpayer-funded reimbursements.
- Federal officials revoked Bhuva’s ability to bill Medicare in March, while state auditors warn that working for more than three hospice providers simultaneously is a potential fraud indicator.
Federal authorities are aggressively targeting corruption within the California hospice system to protect American seniors.
This crackdown follows reports that hundreds of facilities in Los Angeles County show multiple red flags for fraudulent activity.
Dr. Mehmet Oz confirmed the recent actions taken against Bhuva and issued a stern warning to those exploiting federal programs.
“To all the fraudsters out there stealing from our seniors: run, don’t walk. Because we’re coming after you,”
Oz stated.
While the state of California licenses these providers, Governor Gavin Newsom’s office has attempted to distance the state from the crisis.
The Governor’s office claimed that Medicare billing is strictly a federal matter despite the state’s role in authorizing these facilities to operate.
Dr. Kristina Newport of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine noted that managing such a high volume of patients would require a superhuman schedule.
An anti-fraud task force led by Vice President JD Vance recently suspended over 200 providers in Los Angeles as part of a broader federal push for accountability.
This initiative aims to stop the theft of tax dollars and ensure social services remain available for those who truly need them.
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