Fil-Ams among 8 arrested over $50 million California hospice fraud
Three Filipino-Americans were among eight recently arrested in Southern California for allegedly running sham hospice facilities in order to defraud the US healthcare system of over $50 million.
According to the US Attorney's Office in the Central District of California, a Fil-Am couple, aged 76 and 68, is facing an 11-count indictment related to running at least three fraudulent facilities for hospice care. One of them has been convicted three times for healthcare fraud and was free on bond awaiting her trial when she allegedly committed her latest scheme.
Based on the indictment, the husband-and-wife team made at least $4.8 million in false claims through their three hospice companies, leading to Medicare paying the facilities at least $4.2 million. The claims were allegedly for beneficiaries who were not terminally ill and, therefore, did not need hospice care.
Under the same federal operation cracking down on healthcare fraud, a 65-year-old Fil-Am nurse was arrested for running a fraudulent hospice facility from July 2020 to April 2025. She allegedly submitted over $9.1 million in Medicare claims, receiving about $8.5 million.
The nurse allegedly scammed beneficiaries into signing up for hospice services by promising they would receive $300 monthly, as well as other free items. Two of the beneficiaries cited by the Attorney's Office said neither of them had a terminal illness, which was confirmed by a physician. The couple added they also received items they did not need, including wheelchairs, vitamins, and nutritional shakes.
A CNN report said California Governor Gavin Newsom has revoked over 280 hospice licenses in two years over fraud concerns; 300 providers are currently under investigation.
The eight arrested on April 3 are among over 20 charged in a "massive hospice fraud scheme," California officials said on April 9.
This is not the first time Filipinos have been involved in hospice fraud in California. In July 2025, two Filipinos, aged 71 and 55, were arrested on a 14-count federal grand jury indictment, according to the US Attorney's Office in the Central District of California.
One of them supposedly filed over $4.8 million in false claims to Medicare, receiving a payment of more than $3.8 million.
