California Hospice Fraud

Many California residents have fallen victim to hospice fraud, a widespread issue that exploits weak state and federal oversight and has generated millions in fraudulent claims to Medicare. The Trump administration has targeted the state, calling it a “kingdom of fraud” and deferring Medicaid payments. Fraud may start with identity theft, or robocallers and door-to-door tactics asking Medicare users to give away their personal information that is then used to enroll them in hospice. New state regulations took effect in June to combat the large number of fraudulent hospices in California, requiring stricter criteria for hospice licenses. Advocates welcome these changes and urge state and federal cooperation.