California officials charge 21 people in hospice fraud ring exceeding $250M
7 hours ago
- #healthcare fraud
- #identity theft
- #Medi-Cal scheme
- California officials uncovered a multimillion-dollar scheme using stolen identities from out-of-state individuals to fraudulently bill hospice services through Medi-Cal.
- State Attorney General Rob Bonta announced charges against 21 people, with 5 arrested, involving conspiracy to commit health care fraud, money laundering, and identity theft.
- The scheme involved purchasing personal information from the dark web, enrolling non-residents in Medi-Cal, acquiring 14 hospice companies, and billing approximately $267 million.
- Federal efforts, including a nationwide anti-fraud initiative by the Trump administration, have targeted health care fraud, particularly in Los Angeles, citing California's perceived insufficient crackdown.
- Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized California's commitment to prosecuting fraud, with the state filing 119 hospice-related criminal cases and securing 51 convictions under Bonta.