{"id":2227,"date":"2026-03-24T03:21:30","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T03:21:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=2227"},"modified":"2026-03-24T03:21:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T03:21:30","slug":"congress-launches-probe-into-california-hospice-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=2227","title":{"rendered":"Congress launches probe into California hospice fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876674\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  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\/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>California is being investigated by a powerful congressional committee after the Post exposed rampant hospice fraud that\u2019s cost taxpayers more than $100 million.<\/p>\n<p>The House Oversight Committee sent shockwaves across the Golden State on Monday after launching the bombshell probe into widespread Medicare fraud on the West Coast.<\/p>\n<p>The investigation comes off the back of the Post\u2019s revelations multiple \u201cghost\u201d hospices were allegedly billing the government while operating from buildings that have been abandoned for years.<\/p>\n<p>The secret network included empty storefronts, auto parts shops and other offices that were not in use, while other addresses did not exist at all.<\/p>\n<p>The Republican-led House Oversight Committee demanded all documents and communications relating to audits and oversight of federally-funded hospice programs be handed over.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>St. Rita\u2019s Home Health has billed Medicare and Medicaid more than $4 million since 2021, despite the location saying it\u2019s for rent at a strip mall in Van Nuys.  <span class=\"credit\">Benjamin Brown for CA Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Chair James Comer sent a damning letter to Governor Gavin Newsom, claiming the state has a \u201cwell-documented history of fraud in its hospice programs\u201d and estimated the total amount at over $105 million.<\/p>\n<p>The letter said: \u201cRecent reporting has revealed alarming evidence of fraudulent activity in California\u2019s hospice programs, including agencies overbilling Medicare and fraudulently enrolling beneficiaries without their knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><figcaption>Dr. Mehmet Oz and California\u2019s state auditor have cited increases in hospice billings over several years.  <span class=\"credit\">JIM LO SCALZO\/EPA\/Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It added: \u201cThe Committee is concerned your administration does not have sufficient internal controls to prevent and detect fraud and is not conducting proper oversight of these hospice programs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs a result, Americans across the country are paying for California\u2019s rampant hospice fraud and vulnerable patients are being exploited.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Twelve hospice and home-health-care agencies are registered to operate from this San Fernando Valley building. <span class=\"credit\">Benjamin Brown for CA Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The committee said its auditors estimate LA County hospice providers overbilled Medicare by at least $105 million in a single year, adding it had seen a 1,500% increase in registrations since 2010 \u2014 resulting in more than 2,800 providers across the state.<\/p>\n<p>A Post investigation earlier this month obtained data detailing hundreds of suspect hospices and home agencies across the state, with numerous instances of agencies listed at the same location.<\/p>\n<p>St Rita\u2019s Home Health, which data shows billed Medicare about $4.3 million between 2019 and the first-half of 2025, was registered to a vacant Van Nuys strip mall with a \u201cfor rent\u201d sign outside.<\/p>\n<p>A similar story was about six miles away in North Hollywood, where another building that was listed as operating 12 hospice and home health agencies had the same sign hanging out front.<\/p>\n<p>The Post contacted several of the companies allegedly operating inside the building.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Gavin Newsom was asked to turn over records related to hospice fraud in California.  <span class=\"credit\">AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One hung up when asked to confirm its location, another said it moved \u2014 despite still being listed on the CDPH database at the North Hollywood address \u2014 and a third went to a voicemail for \u201dAlexander from Southern California Auto.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One alleged hospice fraudster had the audacity to show off her $4 million Carmel-by-the-Sea home for a news outlet just days before being arrested and charged with stealing $3.2 million from Medicare.<\/p>\n<p>The Post\u2019s findings were consistent with what whistleblowers and industry insiders have described elsewhere \u2014 an epidemic of medical scams, particularly in and around Los Angeles.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Rep. James Comer leads the House committee investigating hospice fraud.  <span class=\"credit\">Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Dr Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services, told the Post earlier this month: \u201cThirty to 40% of all the hospices in America are in Los Angeles, so there\u2019s just no way they are all legitimate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He swiftly cut off payments to suspicious operations across the city and said every hospice in the state was under investigation.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The House Oversight Committee cited \u201crampant fraud\u201d in California hospice systems.   <span class=\"credit\">Obtained by the CA Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton told the Post: \u201c\u2018Until I\u2019m governor next January, it\u2019s only through federal investigation and enforcement that we can expect real accountability for Gavin Newsom, who falsely claims that he\u2019s cleaned up hospice fraud in California.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Newsom came out swinging after the investigation was announced, claiming a moratorium he imposed in 2021 stopped \u201cbad actors\u201d entering the system.<\/p>\n<p>A spokesman said: \u201cIn 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation placing a moratorium on new hospice licenses \u2013 a policy that remains in effect today, preventing bad actors from entering the system while strengthening oversight of existing providers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis work is delivering results, as more than 280 hospice licenses have been revoked over the past two years and an additional 300 providers are under investigation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe state continues to take coordinated action to suspend Medi-Cal payments, revoke licenses, and pursue prosecutions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Experienced hospice provider Kevin Tutunjian, founder of In the Arms of Grace Hospice, acknowledged fraud exists but defended the industry.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Kevin Tutunjian, an experience hospice provider, said fraud exists but most providers are legitimate.  <span class=\"credit\">Ringo Chiu<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>He said: \u201cBlatant fraud is someone who just bills Medicare without the individual knowing. That is one thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut there are organizations trying to do the right thing, but maybe they just are ill-equipped to deliver quality care for whatever reason.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The House committee has asked Newsom to provide records related to anti-fraud practices, audits, Medicare billing and other information by April 6. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- \u603b\u5bb9\u5668\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u5bbd908px Grid\u7d27\u51d1\u5e03\u5c40 -->\r\n<div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 728px 160px; gap:2px; width:908px; background:#eee; padding:2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u901a\u680f\u9876\u90e8\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u6a2a\u5e45 908x258 \u8de8\u6574\u884c -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column:1\/-1; height:258px; background:#ff6b6b; display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114307\" data-width=\"908\" data-height=\"258\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114307});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u7b2c\u4e8c\u901a\u680f\uff1a728\u00d790 \u901a\u680f -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column:1\/-1; 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height:600px;  display:grid; place-items:center;\">\r\n    <!-- JuicyAds v3.0 -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async src=\"https:\/\/poweredby.jads.co\/js\/jads.js\"><\/script>\r\n<ins id=\"1114301\" data-width=\"160\" data-height=\"600\"><\/ins>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" data-cfasync=\"false\" async>(adsbyjuicy = window.adsbyjuicy || []).push({'adzone':1114301});<\/script>\r\n<!--JuicyAds END-->\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/03\/23\/us-news\/congress-launches-probe-into-california-hospice-fraud\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California is being investigated by a powerful congressional committee after the Post exposed rampant hospice&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2228,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[349],"tags":[581,1907,1025,1908,1706,927],"class_list":["post-2227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-california","tag-congress","tag-fraud","tag-hospice","tag-launches","tag-probe"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/newspress-collage-ffrth8kaq-1774321143307.jpg",1200,799,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/newspress-collage-ffrth8kaq-1774321143307-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/newspress-collage-ffrth8kaq-1774321143307-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/newspress-collage-ffrth8kaq-1774321143307-768x511.jpg",640,426,true],"large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/newspress-collage-ffrth8kaq-1774321143307-1024x682.jpg",640,426,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/newspress-collage-ffrth8kaq-1774321143307.jpg",1200,799,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/newspress-collage-ffrth8kaq-1774321143307.jpg",1200,799,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/newspress-collage-ffrth8kaq-1774321143307-1115x715.jpg",1115,715,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/newspress-collage-ffrth8kaq-1774321143307-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/newspress-collage-ffrth8kaq-1774321143307-1024x682.jpg",1024,682,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/newspress-collage-ffrth8kaq-1774321143307-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/newspress-collage-ffrth8kaq-1774321143307-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?cat=349\" rel=\"category\">Blog<\/a>","tag_info":"Blog","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2227"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2227\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}