A Southern California psychiatrist and his wife pleaded not guilty Tuesday to federal charges accusing them of orchestrating a multimillion-dollar hospice fraud scheme.

The case highlights ongoing concerns about Medicare fraud within the hospice care industry, which has faced increased scrutiny from federal authorities in recent years.

The specific details of the alleged fraud scheme have not been fully disclosed in court proceedings. Federal prosecutors typically allege in such cases that defendants submit false claims to Medicare for hospice services that were either not provided or not medically necessary.

The hospice industry has acknowledged fraud concerns and indicated it is working with policymakers to strengthen program integrity measures. Industry representatives say these efforts are aimed at ensuring patients and families continue to receive appropriate end-of-life care while preventing abuse of the Medicare system.

Hospice fraud cases have become more common as federal authorities increase oversight of the rapidly growing hospice industry, which serves terminally ill patients and their families during end-of-life care.