Vice President JD Vance’s anti-fraud task force suspended 447 Los Angeles hospices over $600 million in suspected Medicare theft, exposing a massive scam stealing from taxpayers and vulnerable patients.
Story Highlights
- Vance-led task force escalates from 70 to 447 hospice suspensions in LA, targeting over $600M in fraud—a 539% increase in weeks.
- “Phantom” facilities billed Medicare for non-dying patients using license flipping, stolen identities, and cash bribes in areas like Van Nuys.
- Federal “Operation Never Say Die” arrests doctors, nurses running schemes from prison, amid state probes of 300+ more hospices.
- California Democrats’ AB 2624 criticized as shielding fraud by hiding immigrant providers, clashing with federal crackdown.
- Taxpayer funds diverted from real care erode trust, highlighting federal action overriding lax state oversight.
Vance Task Force Delivers Major Blow to Hospice Fraud
Vice President JD Vance’s anti-fraud task force suspended 447 hospices and 23 home health agencies in Los Angeles for suspected Medicare fraud exceeding $600 million. This action marks a 539% surge from 70 suspensions reported early April 2026. Federal authorities executed arrests under “Operation Never Say Die” on April 10, targeting providers in Covina, Anaheim, and Glendale. The task force, working with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services under Dr. Mehmet Oz, used AI to flag high-risk operations rapidly. Taxpayers stand to recover funds stolen through these schemes.
New: JD Vance Shuts Down 447 LA Hospices in $600M Fraud Crackdown https://t.co/6K4JmZlMOd
— Bigmoe (@Bigmoe16574013) April 15, 2026
Phantom Facilities Exploit Medicare with Deceptive Tactics
Los Angeles County hosts about 1,800 hospices, with CBS analysis identifying over 700—39%—showing multiple fraud red flags like 85% patient survival rates far above national averages. Fraudsters created “phantom” facilities that provided no services, billing Medicare and Medi-Cal for non-terminally ill patients. Tactics included license flipping across addresses, dark web stolen identities, and $300 monthly cash incentives plus vitamins to enroll vulnerable immigrants and non-residents. Concentrations like 42 licenses in four Van Nuys blocks enabled rapid evasion of oversight. State audits first highlighted these indicators.
Federal Arrests Target Key Fraud Operators
Federal arrests in “Operation Never Say Die” ensnared psychologists Gladwin and Amelou Gill, who billed $5.2 million using their daughter’s name to dodge prior bans. Nurse Lolita Minerd operated an Anaheim hospice with suspicious survival rates. Nita Palma managed three facilities while incarcerated. California DOJ’s “Operation Skip Trace” charged 21 suspects in a parallel $267 million Medi-Cal scheme with 14 fake hospices. State probes now target 300 more for license revocation. These actions expose operators prioritizing profit over end-of-life care for the dying.
California Legislation Sparks Fraud Shield Concerns
Assemblywoman Mia Bonta’s AB 2624, dubbed the “Nick Shirley Act,” passed committee 11-2 to protect immigrant service providers’ privacy from exposure. Journalist Nick Shirley condemns it as criminalizing fraud investigations. Critics tie it to Attorney General Rob Bonta, Mia’s husband, despite his $267 million state fraud charges. Federal task force overrides these state efforts, amplifying GOP critiques of Democratic policies enabling waste. Both conservatives and liberals decry elite protections allowing deep state-like fraud to drain public funds meant for real needs. This clash underscores government failure to prioritize citizens over special interests.
Impacts Ripples Through Taxpayers and Patients
Short-term suspensions disrupt services for legitimate patients, while long-term probes promise billions recovered and national anti-fraud models. Stolen $600 million diverts resources from actual Medicare care, compromising beneficiary data for thousands via license schemes. Los Angeles immigrant communities, targeted for fraudulent enrollment, suffer alongside eroding trust in hospice services. Heightened scrutiny on all 1,800 LA providers triggers revocations, exposing licensing vulnerabilities. Americans across political lines share frustration with officials more focused on reelection than safeguarding taxpayer dollars and the vulnerable.
Sources:
JD Vance task force hospices fraud
LA hospice fraud multimillion dollar Medicare arrests
California fraud crackdown Los Angeles hospice arrests
