Two men in the Houston area found that thousands of dollars in medical supplies were billed to their Medicare accounts for items they never ordered or received. The bills listed a Florida company, Sunshine Senior Solutions, and included charges for catheters, wound covers, and orthopedic braces. Both men reported the claims to Medicare.
According to ABC13, Ron Barlow's Medicare Summary Notice shows Medicare paid Sunshine Senior Solutions about $25,700 for "wound covers" and hundreds of catheters billed between September 2024 and February of this year. Richard Carter's records show Medicare paid a little over $15,000 for knee and wrist braces and other supplies. Barlow told the station he does not use any of those products, adding with some understatement, "No, not at all. I would know if I had a catheter." Both men say they have been working with Medicare to dispute the claims and find out how the bills landed in their names.
Provider Flagged By Hospital System
Long before the Houston men spotted their paperwork, a regional Colorado health system had already raised a red flag about Sunshine Senior Solutions. In March, the system issued a fraud alert that specifically named the company among suppliers linked to suspicious Explanation of Benefits statements.
The alert urged Medicare beneficiaries to treat their Medicare numbers like a credit card, to monitor EOBs carefully and to report any mystery charges to Medicare or their local Senior Medicare Patrol. For the full warning and safety tips, see the alert from UCHealth.
What Public Records Show
State business filings and federal provider registries show that Sunshine Senior Solutions was formed in 2020 and is registered in Delray Beach, Florida. Public records also indicate the company has changed ownership several times.
A federal provider listing shows an active National Provider Identifier tied to the business and an authorized official who was previously named on company filings. Those public records match the supplier name that appears on the Medicare notices received by the Houston men. For more background, see state corporate records and the durable medical equipment provider listing at BizProfile and the NPI Profile.
Possible Ties To Past Fraud Cases
Reporters in other markets reached a woman who said she sold Sunshine Senior Solutions in November 2024 and denied any role in questionable billing. She also confirmed to local investigators that she had been in a relationship with Victor Van Vickery, who, according to court filings cited by regional reporting, pleaded guilty in a separate durable-medical-equipment scheme and is serving a federal sentence, as per WPTV.
Legal Implications
Federal sources told 13 Investigates that as of June 2025 Sunshine Senior Solutions is no longer enrolled in the Medicare program, which prevents it from submitting new claims to Medicare. The FBI declined to confirm whether it is investigating these specific bills, which is standard practice for the agency, but said its criminal division treats health-care fraud cases as a high priority. State attorneys general offices in multiple states reported receiving complaints about the provider as journalists pulled public records and filings related to the company, as noted by ABC13
What To Check On Your Medicare Account
Advocates and health systems say the first line of defense is your own mailbox. They recommend reviewing every Explanation of Benefits statement and treating your Medicare number like a credit card number: something you do not casually share.
If you spot charges for equipment or services you do not recognize, call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE and report suspected fraud to your plan, your local Senior Medicare Patrol or through Medicare's online fraud reporting tools. For a checklist of red flags and more detailed guidance, see the notice from UCHealth.
The two Houston men have not been charged for the disputed Medicare claims. Officials are now reviewing the situation because public funds may have been used for supplies the men say they never received. State and federal agencies say the investigation will take time. Experts recommend keeping explanation-of-benefits statements, checking for errors, and asking Medicare to review any claim that does not match the care you received.
