Two California residents plead guilty in $16M Medicare hospice fraud and money laundering scheme; who’s calling 988, 3 years in; patients don’t understand processed foods and health risks – Morning Medical Update

Two California residents plead guilty in $16M Medicare hospice fraud and money laundering scheme

Two Winnetka, California residents pleaded guilty in a multi-year scheme to defraud Medicare of nearly $16 million through fake hospice companies. Karpis Srapyan admitted to conspiracy and laundering $3.2 million in fraud proceeds, while Susanna Harutyunyan, who used fraudulent documents and bank accounts, also pleaded guilty to money laundering. Prosecutors say the pair and their co-defendants used decreased doctors’ identities, billed for care never provided and spent the stolen funds on personal expenses, including a BMW. Sentencing is scheduled for later this year.

Who's calling 988 three years in

Three years after the launch of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, NYU researchers find major geographic and personal differences in who uses the service. People in the West and Northeast are more likely to call than those in the South, and veterans account for over 10% of contacts. Political affiliation also plays a role, with Democrats more likely to use 988 than Republicans. The findings, published in JAMA Network Open and Health Affairs, suggest tailored outreach is needed to reach those in distress — especially in conservative regions and among those unlikely to seek help anywhere.

Patients are confused about processed foods and health risks

A new JAMA Network Open study from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine reveals that 39% of U.S. adults mistakenly believe all processed foods are unhealthy, with many unable to identify which foods raise chronic disease risk. Survey respondents often blamed sugar and carbs for diabetes, overlooking processed meats like bacon and hot dogs — which are strongly linked to diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Plant-based processed foods like bran cereal, by contrast, are associated with health benefits.