Los Angeles hospice fraud investigation has led to hundreds of provider suspensions as federal officials target alleged abuse of Medicare and Medicaid funds.
A federal anti-fraud task force led by Vice President JD Vance has suspended hundreds of hospice providers in the Los Angeles area as part of a sweeping effort targeting suspected abuse of taxpayer-funded health programs.
Officials said the task force halted payments to 447 hospice providers and 23 home health agencies tied to more than $600 million in questionable claims. The suspensions mark a sharp increase in enforcement activity, rising significantly from earlier actions this month.
“Where there is fraud, the task force will find it,” a spokesperson for Vance said, according to reports.
The action is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to combat fraud in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, particularly in regions long identified by investigators as high-risk.
“To all fraudsters: good luck trying to hide from the Vice President’s task force,” a White House official also stated. “[The anti-fraud task force is] reviewing and pursuing every possible lead. These suspension numbers, and the dollar values saved, are only going to increase.”
Authorities have focused heavily on Los Angeles County, where officials say some providers billed for hospice services for patients who were not terminally ill or were unaware they had been enrolled. In some cases, investigators allege that stolen identities were used to sign up individuals and submit fraudulent claims.
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