Southern California doctor defrauded over $3.2 million from Medicare

A Southern California doctor was convicted of defrauding Medicare out of millions of dollars through a multi-year scheme.

Victor Contreras, 68, of Santa Paula, worked for two Pasadena hospices, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

From July 2016 to February 2019, Contreras and an accomplice, Juanita Antenor, 61, worked to defraud Medicare by submitting nearly $4 million in fraudulent claims for hospice services, officials said.

The hospice companies — Arcadia Hospice Provider Inc. and Saint Mariam Hospice Inc. — were controlled by Antenor.

Medicare typically only covers hospice care for patients who are terminally ill, officials explained.

Contreras falsely stated that his patients had terminal illnesses so they would be eligible for Medicare-covered hospice services, according to court documents.

For some patients, Contreras submitted false claims even when he was not their primary care physician and had not spoken to the patients’ doctors about their conditions.

Through this method, Contreas collected payments and defrauded Medicare out of $3,289,889, officials said.

According to Medical Board of California records, Contreras is a licensed physician in California but has been on probation with the board since 2015 and is subject to limitations on his practice. 

Contreras pleaded guilty to one count of healthcare fraud. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 25 where he faces...