California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that arrests have been made and felony charges filed against seven people in connection with an alleged hospice fraud scheme in Monterey County.The total loss to Medi-Cal and Medicare is estimated to be $3,211,419.79, according to Bonta’s office. The complaint alleges the conduct occurred from about April 1, 2016, through June 1, 2024 — roughly 8 years and 2 months.The Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse filed felony charges in Monterey County Superior Court against Nimfa Molina (head nurse), Dr. Luis Artavia, Dr. Mark Samonte and Dr. Shomir Banerjee (medical directors), and Danny Lodevico, Flor Mora and Christine Nugiud-Yem (owners). The complaint alleges false or fraudulent claims and conspiracy to commit a crime, with an aggravated white-collar enhancement.Among those arrested is the owner of Compassionate Touch Hospice and Spiritual Touch Hospice, two co-owners of Fountain Hospice, three doctors, and one nurse. “Claims that California is overrun with fraud and doing nothing about it are simply false. This case proves it,” said Attorney General RobBonta. “We want Californians to know that we are on it. We have been on it for decades. Fighting fraud is part of our regular, ongoing work, and over time we have built real expertise in identifying abuse, holding bad actors accountable, and recovering taxpayer dollars.” The arrest and charges were made possible after investigations by the California Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health Services Office of the Inspector General.The DOJ received a referral from the California Board of Registered Nursing after alleged fraudulent activity was found and associated with Spiritual Touch Hospice and Compassionate Touch Hospice, per a criminal filing.A multi-year investigation by the DMFEA found what authorities described as a sophisticated scheme to defraud Medi-Cal and Medicare involving owners, doctors and nurses tied to Spiritual Touch Hospice, Compassionate Touch Hospice and Fountain Hospice. Bonta said the defendants owned, operated or worked for the three companies at the same time and recruited, enrolled and certified patients for hospice care who did not have terminal diagnoses. Authorities allege some patients did not understand hospice is intended for the terminally ill or were unaware they had been enrolled. To avoid detection, investigators allege, patients were moved between the companies after six months while the defendants continued billing for hospice services.For the full complaint, click here.
MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. —
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that arrests have been made and felony charges filed against seven people in connection with an alleged hospice fraud scheme in Monterey County.
The total loss to Medi-Cal and Medicare is estimated to be $3,211,419.79, according to Bonta’s office. The complaint alleges the conduct occurred from about April 1, 2016, through June 1, 2024 — roughly 8 years and 2 months.
The Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse filed felony charges in Monterey County Superior Court against Nimfa Molina (head nurse), Dr. Luis Artavia, Dr. Mark Samonte and Dr. Shomir Banerjee (medical directors), and Danny Lodevico, Flor Mora and Christine Nugiud-Yem (owners).
The complaint alleges false or fraudulent claims and conspiracy to commit a crime, with an aggravated white-collar enhancement.
Among those arrested is the owner of Compassionate Touch Hospice and Spiritual Touch Hospice, two co-owners of Fountain Hospice, three doctors, and one nurse.
“Claims that California is overrun with fraud and doing nothing about it are simply false. This case proves it,” said Attorney General RobBonta. “We want Californians to know that we are on it. We have been on it for decades. Fighting fraud is part of our regular, ongoing work, and over time we have built real expertise in identifying abuse, holding bad actors accountable, and recovering taxpayer dollars.”
The arrest and charges were made possible after investigations by the California Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health Services Office of the Inspector General.
The DOJ received a referral from the California Board of Registered Nursing after alleged fraudulent activity was found and associated with Spiritual Touch Hospice and Compassionate Touch Hospice, per a criminal filing.
A multi-year investigation by the DMFEA found what authorities described as a sophisticated scheme to defraud Medi-Cal and Medicare involving owners, doctors and nurses tied to Spiritual Touch Hospice, Compassionate Touch Hospice and Fountain Hospice.
Bonta said the defendants owned, operated or worked for the three companies at the same time and recruited, enrolled and certified patients for hospice care who did not have terminal diagnoses.
Authorities allege some patients did not understand hospice is intended for the terminally ill or were unaware they had been enrolled.
To avoid detection, investigators allege, patients were moved between the companies after six months while the defendants continued billing for hospice services.
For the full complaint, click here.