Experienced hospice operators have come to the industry’s defense, acknowledging that while fraud is a concern, it isn’t the whole story.
Kevin Tutunjian, who started In the Arms of Grace Hospice in Los Angeles back in 2011, pointed out that the issue is “subtle.” He believes that most of the industry consists of genuine, hardworking individuals.
“Blatant fraud looks like someone billing Medicare without consent, and that’s quite different,” Tutunjian remarked. “However, there are organizations striving to do the right thing that just might not have the right resources to ensure quality care.”
He mentioned to the Post that while fraud exists, he doesn’t think it’s as widespread as claimed, urging authorities to consult more with industry experts when addressing allegations of fraud in the sector.
“If I had come here about five years ago, that perspective might have been fitting. But I’m not so sure it’s the same case now,” he clarified, specifying that his comments were about hospice care, not home health care.
In 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom enacted a bill that paused new hospice licensing.
Tutunjian, who has been with the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association (CHAPCA) for many years, pointed out that too many licenses were already issued, leading to a perception of widespread fraud.
“Why do we issue so many permits, then claim there’s a fraud problem with all these hospices?” he questioned.
California currently has 2,836 licensed hospice agencies; over 1,800 are located in Los Angeles alone, as reported by a 2022 state audit. In contrast, New York has just 43 agencies and Florida has 44.
In 2019, Los Angeles County held six times the national average of hospice agencies when compared to its senior population.
However, Tutunjian believes the real focus should be on educating the public about how to identify high-quality, compliant hospices, starting with accreditation.
He emphasized that families need to ask important questions when evaluating hospice options. For instance, families should check if the hospice provides supplemental or specialized programs.
“Is there a volunteer program? Is there a bereavement care program? These are crucial for assessing the quality,” Tutunjian said. “It all circles back to educating the public on the right queries to bring up.”
As Dr. Oz intensifies his examination of California’s healthcare landscape, Tutunjian expressed hope that organizations like his will be included in discussions aimed at curbing waste, fraud, and abuse.
“Providers and stakeholders should be at the table. We need to be part of the discussion and part of the solution,” he asserted.
