MIAMI.- He Department of Justice reported the arrest of eight people, most of them health professionals, suspected of an alleged fraud to the program Medicare for the amount of 50 million dollars through a network that operated in the south of California.
Through an operation, federal officials determined alleged embezzlement from the health system in several palliative care centers in the cities of Glendale, Artesia, Tarzana and Simi Valley, in the Los Angeles area, it was reported.
The suspects charged significant amounts to Medicare for patients who supposedly suffered from terminal illnesses with forged diagnoses and who also did not meet the requirements to receive these care services, as authorities explained to the agencies.
Among those detained are nurses, a psychologist and a chiropractor, it was reported.
Measurements in California
First Assistant US Attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli, called the state the “kingdom of fraud” during a press conference announcing the charges.
For its part, Governor Gavin Newsom’s office reported that the state is taking “strong action” in Medicare health centers to combat fraud that has been reported in federal benefit programs.
It said on its X account that it has revoked more than 280 hospice licenses in two years and that 300 providers are under investigation.
Anti-fraud order
“I’m glad the federal government is finally taking responsibility,” Newsom wrote in a post on X.
In March, President Donald Trump signed an order creating an anti-fraud task force led by Vice President JD Vance that began meetings with states.
Florida is one that has been asked to share information on how it identifies, prevents and addresses fraud in Medicaid, another federal benefit program.
