Feds Arrest Eight in Southern California Hospice Fraud Bust
Key Takeaways
- Eight people arrested in Southern California healthcare and hospice fraud scheme.
- More than $50 million billed to Medicare through sham hospice facilities.
- Operation Never Say Die coordinated the arrests and related charges.
Operation Never Say Die
Federal authorities arrested eight individuals as part of "Operation Never Say Die."
“LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The U”
The investigation uncovered more than $50 million in fraudulent payments.
Defendants recruited beneficiaries who were not terminally ill and paid them to pose as patients.
Cross-Party Blame Routed in Accountability
Essayli called California "the kingdom of fraud" and blamed Governor Newsom.
Newsom's office highlighted revoking 280 hospice licenses in two years.
This tussle unfolded amid the Trump administration's intensified anti-fraud efforts.
Medicare Vulnerabilities and Industry Complexity
Hospice fraud is part of a broader ecosystem vulnerability.
Providers used multiple licenses to dodge audits.
California's Medicaid fraud alone could amount to $50 billion annually.
Community Impact and Next Steps
Hospice fraud means potentially receiving inappropriate care.
Oz promised a broader review of all California hospices.
The war over hospice fraud in California has only just begun.
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