A physician who worked for two Pasadena, Calif., hospices pleaded guilty to his role in a fraud scheme that defrauded Medicare out of more than $3 million.
Victor Contreras, MD, 68, of Santa Paula, pleaded guilty to submitting nearly $4 million in fraudulent claims for hospice services from July 2016 to February 2019 at the two facilities owned by co-defendant Juanita Antenor, according to a July 24 Justice Department news release.
Dr. Contreras falsely stated on claims forms that patients had terminal illnesses to make them eligible for hospice services covered by Medicare. Of the more than $3.9 million in fraudulent claims submitted, Medicare paid out more than $3.2 million.
Dr. Contreras is a licensed physician in California, but has been on probation since 2015 and is subject to limitations on his practice, according to the release.
He pleaded guilty to one count of healthcare fraud and faces a maximum of 10 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 25.