Hospice Fraud in Los Angeles Highlighted by RFK Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently brought attention to significant hospice fraud in Los Angeles, alleging that the situation is largely controlled by “Russian gangsters.” This remark followed reports revealing that the fraud has cost taxpayers over $100 million.
During an appearance on a podcast, he mentioned that Los Angeles has “more hospice companies” than the rest of the country combined.
“They are primarily run by Russian gangsters who claim they are caring for dying people in their homes and billing the federal government,” he pointed out. “It’s all a scam.”
RFK Jr. also posed a question to the podcast host, asking, “Do you know what the mortality rate is at the Russian hospice in Los Angeles?” He then claimed that these hospices allegedly boast a “100 percent survival rate.”
“No one dies,” he asserted. “They’re just building up forever. They don’t really exist. Those are just patient IDs that they stole.”
These comments come as California is under investigation by the House Oversight Committee for potential hospice fraud. The inquiry was initiated after reports emerged regarding “ghost” hospices, which reportedly charged the government while being based in long-abandoned structures.
This deceptive network allegedly includes various unused locations, with no credible addresses provided for actual operations.
The bipartisan House Oversight Committee is now demanding all records related to the supervision of federally funded hospice programs.
Committee Chairman James Comer sent a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom, accusing the state of a “well-documented history of fraud in the hospice program,” estimating the losses at over $105 million.
“Recent news reports have uncovered disturbing evidence of fraud in California’s hospice program,” the letter noted, highlighting issues like providers overcharging Medicare and enrolling beneficiaries without their consent.
It expressed concern over the government’s inadequate internal controls to prevent and identify fraudulent activities, suggesting that vulnerable patients are being exploited as a result.
According to estimates, hospice providers in Los Angeles County may be overcharging Medicare by at least $105 million in a single year. This sharp increase in enrollment—of about 1,500 percent since 2010—has resulted in over 2,800 providers statewide.
Following the investigation announcement, Newsom responded strongly. He insisted that the moratorium he implemented in 2021 has blocked “bad actors” from entering the system.
“In 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation that suspends new hospice licenses. This policy remains effective today,” a spokesperson stated, emphasizing that it enhances oversight of existing providers.
“This initiative has been effective, with over 280 hospice licenses revoked and around 300 providers under investigation in the past two years,” the spokesperson added.
The House committee has requested that Newsom submit records related to anti-fraud measures and Medicare billing by April 6.
