California hospice fraud

“Fraud is a national problem, but it starts locally. Drive around certain neighborhoods in Los Angeles and you’ll pass what appear to be empty office buildings, which unbeknownst to neighbors could serve as hubs of criminal activity. There are more than 1,000 potentially fraudulent hospice operations identified in Los Angeles.

Many are nothing more than mailing addresses, used as fronts to siphon off Medicare funds for services never provided. These fake hospices — often backed by international operators — exploit regulatory loopholes and overwhelmed state oversight, illustrating how fraud has gone from isolated abuse to industrial-scale theft.” – Mehmet Oz, July 15, 2025