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Allegations of widespread hospice fraud in Los Angeles County are drawing increased scrutiny, including attention on a physician linked to Medicare claims for thousands of patients across dozens of facilities.
Dr. Rajiv Bhuva has been associated with Medicare claims for nearly 2,800 patients across 126 California hospices in 2024, according to reporting by CBS News. Of those, 115 hospices are located in Los Angeles County. The outlet reported that Bhuva is connected to more hospice providers than any other physician in its analysis.
The findings come as investigators examine what officials have described as potential large-scale fraud in the region. CBS News identified 742 hospice facilities in Los Angeles County that showed multiple red flags for fraud, out of roughly 1,800 total providers.
Statewide, hospice physicians typically oversee about 140 patients annually. By contrast, Bhuva was linked to 2,791 claims for terminally ill patients in 2024, according to the report. Those claims accounted for approximately $71.7 million in Medicare reimbursements.
Federal officials have taken action. Mehmet Oz of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said Bhuva’s ability to bill Medicare was revoked in March.
“To all the fraudsters out there stealing from our seniors: run, don’t walk. Because we’re coming after you,” Oz wrote on social media.
Bhuva has not been charged with a crime. Still, experts say the scale of claims raises concerns. Dr. Kristina Newport of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine told CBS News that managing that many patients would require “a superhuman schedule” to provide meaningful care.
California officials have previously flagged similar patterns. A 2022 state audit warned that physicians or administrators affiliated with multiple hospice providers could signal potential fraud, noting such arrangements raise questions about whether individuals are actively involved in operations.
The news comes as a federal anti-fraud task force led by Vice President JD Vance has suspended 221 healthcare providers in Los Angeles as part of a broader crackdown. Officials said investigations are ongoing and additional actions are expected.