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Medicaid Payments Fuel $40 Million Luxury Lifestyle for California Respiratory Supplier

Medicaid data show that HeroCare, run by Curtis Kurkova, received about $40.5 million from the program since 2020, funding a $28 million Hidden Hills mansion.

Medicaid records indicate that HeroCare, owned by licensed respiratory practitioner Curtis Kurkova, collected at least $40.5 million from the program from 2020 through 2024, with about $34.4 million disbursed in 2023-2024. The influx of funds coincided with the acquisition of several luxury properties, culminating in a $28 million Hidden Hills mansion showcased on Instagram. The company’s digital footprint is scant, its website largely empty, and on-site visits to its claimed addresses in Chino and Van Nuys revealed either unrelated businesses or locked doors.

Kurkova, who legally changed his name from Curtis Ray Hotchkiss Jr., cycled through multiple LLCs, including HeroCare East LLC and HeroCare 2 LLC, before cancelling the latter, while his brother Michael Amar formed a separate firm using the same phone number. State health officials confirmed that both brothers’ medical-equipment licenses expired this year, though a site license remains at the Van Nuys address. Fraud specialists highlight the dramatic year-over-year billing spikes and the mismatch between claimed pediatric respiratory products and a sizable share of urinary catheter claims as red flags demanding investigation. Neither Curtis, Christian nor Michael responded to requests for comment.

Why it matters

It suggests possible misuse of Medicaid funds to finance a luxury lifestyle, raising concerns about health-care fraud.

In this story

medicaid fraudluxury homesrespiratory equipmentbilling spikesname changeLLC shufflingCalifornia health licensesurinary cathetersinvestigative reporting
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