California is the epicenter of a massive hospice fraud crisis, with Los Angeles County seeing a 1,500% increase in hospice agencies over a decade. Fraudsters steal Medicare numbers and enroll victims without consent, leading to denied medical care and even deaths.
- A woman died after a fall while fraudulently enrolled in hospice, unable to get cataract surgery. - State officials have charged 21 suspects in a $267 million fraud ring and revoked 280 licenses.
- Emergency regulations to tighten licensing remain delayed due to political infighting. - Victims like Lynn Ianni lost Medicare coverage for months after being falsely enrolled.
The crisis highlights the need for better data sharing and stricter oversight to protect seniors.