California Attorney General Rob Bonta has launched a public awareness campaign aimed at addressing hospice fraud and providing resources to help Californians recognize and report abuse within the hospice care system. The initiative seeks to educate individuals and families about their rights, highlight warning signs of fraud, and offer guidance on reporting suspicious activity.
“Hospice fraud exploits individuals at their most vulnerable moments — often targeting the elderly, the terminally ill, and those unfamiliar with the complexities of end-of-life care. From enrolling ineligible patients to billing for services never rendered, these unethical practices drain critical public resources and cause immeasurable harm to families,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Our message is simple: Hospice care should be about compassion, not corruption. This initiative builds on our ongoing efforts to protect patients and families and arm them with the knowledge they need to recognize and report fraudulent behavior.”
Hospice care is designed for people who are terminally ill, focusing on comfort rather than curative treatment. However, there has been a notable rise in fraudulent practices within California’s hospice industry, especially in areas such as Van Nuys, Glendale, Burbank, and North Hollywood. These schemes include submitting false claims for unprovided services, billing for unnecessary procedures, kickback arrangements for patient referrals, and enrolling patients who do not meet hospice criteria.
The California Department of Justice’s new initiative features educational materials distributed through billboards and radio spots across Los Angeles. Community forums will be held with legal experts from the Division of Medi-Cal Fraud & Elder Abuse to assist law enforcement and healthcare professionals in identifying fraud. Additional support includes a dedicated helpline, an online portal for reporting suspected cases, and guides for patients and caregivers.
Some common signs of hospice fraud include lack of regular care visits or necessary services; enrollment of patients who do not appear seriously ill; unclear explanations regarding hospice enrollment; offers of gifts or incentives for signing up; prolonged hospice stays without updates; unprofessional staff behavior; or questionable billing statements.
Attorney General Bonta encourages people to verify providers’ credentials, understand their insurance coverage, keep detailed records of all care received, consult with their regular doctors before agreeing to hospice services, ask questions about services provided, watch out for incentives offered by unknown sources, avoid non-referred services, and promptly report any suspicious activity.
Complaints can be submitted online at https://oag.ca.gov/dmfea/reporting or by calling the Division of Medi-Cal Fraud & Elder Abuse Complaint Line toll-free at (800) 722-0432. Written complaints may also be sent by mail to the California Department of Justice.
Since taking office, Attorney General Bonta has filed criminal charges against 109 individuals related to hospice fraud offenses and conducted 24 civil investigations that have resulted in several civil filings.
Additional information on recognizing hospice fraud is available through consumer alerts and brochures provided by the California Department of Justice.
