Dr. Victor Contreras, 69, of Santa Paula, Calif., was sentenced after previously pleading 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 Anteno, according to a Dec. 16 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.
In addition to the prison sentence, Dr. Contreras was ordered to pay more than $3.2 million in restitution.
Ms. Antenor remains at large, according to the release. Another co-defendent, Callie Black, who is accused of recruiting patients for the hospice companies in exchange for kickbacks, is scheduled to go to trial in March.
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