Fraud guide
Hospice fraud
Public cases describe Medicare payments for patients who were not terminally ill, and for crisis-level care that was not needed or not provided.
What the fraud has looked like in public cases
The Justice Department’s February 21, 2025 release about Saad Healthcare says Medicare hospice is end-of-life care for patients who are terminally ill, meaning a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course. Patients generally stop curative treatment aimed at the terminal condition and receive care aimed at symptoms, pain, and stress. 1 Source 1
That release says Saad agreed to pay $3 million to resolve allegations that, between 2013 and 2020, it submitted false Medicare claims for 21 Alabama patients who were not eligible because they were not terminally ill. The qui tam was filed by two former employees, Melissa Wolff and Whitney Sims. The release says they will receive $540,000. It says the claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. 1 Source 1
A separate August 20, 2024 release says the United States alleged that three Intrepid hospice facilities admitted patients who were not terminally ill, or kept patients who no longer met hospice requirements, between 2016 and 2021. That settlement also resolved home-health allegations and states that the claims are allegations only and that there has been no determination of liability. 2 Source 2
Which published programs may apply
The Justice Department’s October 20, 2026 fraud-reward pages list hospice among the submissions the program will prioritize, inside a broader category of federal health care offenses. The stated early award is $10,000 to $30,000, in the Department’s discretion, after charges are unsealed. That is not a share of the Medicare loss. 3 Source 3 4 Source 4
The Saad and Intrepid matters were civil False Claims Act cases, including qui tam suits. The relator shares in those releases are case results under the Act. They are not a schedule for the next case. Read the False Claims Act page for the statutory 15 to 30 percent framework. 1 Source 1 2 Source 2 5 Source 5
Where to report
The Department tells the public to report at America.gov/fraud. Its civil fraud page also describes a report to the inspector general of the agency involved, a report to the FBI, or a qui tam complaint filed under seal. This site does not take the tip. 3 Source 3 6 Source 6 7 Source 7
Questions readers ask
Does a hospice tip have to involve a certain dollar loss to be considered for the early DOJ reward?
The Department’s FAQ says no. It says tips about schemes with little or no loss can still be considered if they lead to criminal charges and meet the other published requirements. 4 Source 4
Were the Saad allegations proved at trial?
The Office of Public Affairs release says the claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. The release announces a settlement and a relator payment. It does not announce a trial verdict. 1 Source 1
Sources
- Saad Healthcare Agrees to Pay $3M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations, Office of Public Affairs, February 21, 2025 U.S. Department of Justice
- Nationwide Home Healthcare and Hospice Provider to Pay $3.85M, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Kentucky, August 20, 2024 U.S. Department of Justice
- Justice Department announcement of the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program, October 20, 2026 U.S. Department of Justice
- Criminal Tip Rewards Pilot Program, frequently asked questions, updated October 20, 2026 U.S. Department of Justice
- The False Claims Act: A Primer, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice
- America.gov/fraud reporting page America.gov
- Report Fraud Against the Federal Government, Civil Division, updated March 13, 2025 U.S. Department of Justice