Home / Crime and Justice / Doctor Couple Accused of $7.45M Medicare Hospice Fraud
Doctor Couple Accused of $7.45M Medicare Hospice Fraud
3 Apr
Summary
- Married couple arrested for alleged $7.45 million Medicare fraud.
- Hospice had unusually high survival rates, a fraud red flag.
- Arrests are first in a broader federal fraud investigation.
Federal agents in California have arrested a married couple, doctor Gladwin Gill and psychologist Amelou Gill, who allegedly defrauded Medicare of $7.45 million. The couple jointly operated 626 Hospice, also known as St. Francis Palliative Care. Investigators flagged the hospice due to its unusually high patient survival rates, which often signal fraudulent activity in palliative care settings.
These arrests are reportedly the first in a series of actions by federal officials as part of a wider fraud investigation. United States Attorney Bill Essayli stated that 15 defendants are being announced in connection with the broader scheme, with more than half facing hospice fraud charges. Some individuals already incarcerated are alleged to have collaborated with others to continue their fraudulent activities.
Months of scrutiny by Los Angeles County investigators, prompted by a 2022 state audit, revealed that hundreds of hospices exhibited warning signs. These included low patient numbers, excessive billing, shared staff, and patients discharged alive despite terminal diagnoses. The House Oversight Committee has also launched an investigation into widespread hospice fraud, seeking documents from California Governor Gavin Newsom. The government has declared a zero-tolerance policy for criminals defrauding taxpayers.
