{"id":2534867,"date":"2026-01-13T09:46:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T14:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-gop-urges-hhs-watchdog-to-crack-down-on-california-medicare-fraud\/"},"modified":"2026-01-13T09:50:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T14:50:33","slug":"house-gop-urges-hhs-watchdog-to-crack-down-on-california-medicare-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-gop-urges-hhs-watchdog-to-crack-down-on-california-medicare-fraud\/","title":{"rendered":"House GOP urges HHS watchdog to crack down on California Medicare fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhouse-gop-urges-hhs-watchdog-to-crack-down-on-california-medicare-fraud%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2534867&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>House Republican leaders have asked the HHS inspector general to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >investigate suspected large-scale medicare fraud<\/a> in Los Angeles County, saying the schemes resemble fraud uncovered previously in Minnesota. A 2022 California state auditor report cited signs of organized abuse among hospice and home-health agencies &#8211; rapid, disproportionate growth, geographic clustering (including 112 licensed agencies at one Van Nuys address), long hospice stays, high rates of patients discharged alive, and staff working for many agencies &#8211; and estimated $105 million in likely overbilling in 2019. Lawmakers note that Los Angeles County accounts for an outsized share of U.S. hospice and home-health providers: over 31% of the nation&#8217;s hospice centers and a 46% increase in home-health agencies there from 2019-2023, which MedPAC said largely drove a 3.4% national uptick in 2023. The letter, signed by Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committee leaders, requests a meeting with HHS-OIG by Jan. 23 to review evidence and possible actions; they cite broader estimates of $1.2 billion in improper home-health payments and $198 million in suspected hospice fraud and say stronger oversight is needed to protect taxpayers and vulnerable seniors.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">California has allowed widespread Medicare fraud, House Republicans say<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2468758\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>EXCLUSIVE <\/strong>&mdash; House Republicans are looking to the top watchdog at the Department of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/health-and-human-services\/\">Health and Human Services<\/a> to investigate suspected <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Medicare\/\">Medicare<\/a> fraud schemes in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/California\/\">California<\/a> that mirror the taxpayer theft in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Minnesota\/\">Minnesota<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Republican leaders on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-energy-and-commerce-committee\/\">House Energy and Commerce Committee<\/a>, in conjunction with the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-ways-and-means-committee\/\">House Committee on Ways and Means<\/a>, sent a letter on Tuesday to the HHS inspector general&rsquo;s office asking what it is doing to address concerns about scammers in California allegedly stealing millions from Medicare.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4415177\/clintons-contempt-congress-no-show-epstein-depositions\/\">Clintons to be held in contempt of Congress if they no-show depositions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4414892\/new-york-city-unions-have-history-supporting-maduro-regime\/\">New York City unions have history of supporting Maduro regime<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4413620\/fbi-names-agent-dan-bongino-replacement-deputy-director\/\">FBI names longtime agent as Dan Bongino&#8217;s replacement for deputy director<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The letter, obtained exclusively by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, cites several reports indicating large-scale abuse of Medicare funds by fraudsters operating home health and hospice agencies across Los Angeles County.<\/p>\n<p>Among them, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/information.auditor.ca.gov\/pdfs\/reports\/2021-123.pdf\">a 2022 report<\/a> from the California state auditor found &ldquo;indicators strongly suggest[ing] that a network or networks of individual perpetrators in Los Angeles County are engaging in a large and organized effort to defraud the Medicare and Medi-Cal hospice programs.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>These indicators of fraud and abuse included &ldquo;rapid, disproportionate growth in the number of hospice agencies; excessive geographic clustering of hospice agencies; long durations of hospice services; high rates of patients discharged alive; and employees working for a large number of hospice agencies.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In one case of &ldquo;suspiciously high&rdquo; numbers of hospice centers clustered together, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democratic-legislator-praises-gop-auditor-for-quick-review-of-st-louis-schools-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Democratic legislator praises GOP auditor for quick review of St. Louis schools - Washington Examiner\">state auditor&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s report counted 112 different licensed agencies that were located at the same address in Van Nuys, California.<\/p>\n<p>State auditors estimated that hospice agencies in Los Angeles County likely overbilled Medicare by $105 million in 2019 alone.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4399944\/how-minnesota-somali-fraud-industrial-complex-stolen-millions-medicaid\/\"><strong>HOW MINNESOTA&rsquo;S SOMALI FRAUD INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX HAS STOLEN MILLIONS FROM MEDICAID<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In the letter, the lawmakers note that there were roughly 58 million seniors nationwide <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/usafacts.org\/data\/topics\/people-society\/population-and-demographics\/our-changing-population\/state\/california\/county\/los-angeles-county\/\">in 2022<\/a>, with about 1.49 million of them, or 2.5% of the nation&rsquo;s senior population, residing in Los Angeles County at the time. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/aspe.hhs.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/d5de5b564c2eb67de9c65900ffffca6f\/hospice-agency-changes-ownership.pdf.\">That year<\/a>, 5,900 hospice care agencies were in operation throughout the United States. Out of those, Los Angeles County accounted for over 31% of the country&rsquo;s total number of hospice centers.<\/p>\n<p>Between 2019 and 2023, the number of home health agencies in the U.S. decreased 6%, but HHAs increased 46% in Los Angeles County during that period.<\/p>\n<p>More than 1,400 new Los Angeles County HHAs enrolled in Medicare in the last five years, representing over half of California&rsquo;s HHAs and nearly 14% of all HHAs in the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>The inordinate volume of HHAs in Los Angeles County was also mentioned by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission in its <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medpac.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Mar25_MedPAC_Report_To_Congress_SEC-1.pdf\">March 2025 report<\/a> to Congress. According to the MedPAC report, the number of HHAs participating in the Medicare program increased by 3.4% in 2023, an uptick &ldquo;due almost entirely to growth in the number of HHAs in Los Angeles County.&rdquo; Excluding this county, the number of participating HHAs actually declined by 2.8%.<\/p>\n<p>Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce;&nbsp;John Joyce (R-PA), chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee; and Morgan Griffith (R-VA), chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, co-signed the letter addressed to HHS Inspector General Thomas March Bell.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has an extensive history of digging deeper into matters where program integrity has been compromised,&rdquo; Guthrie, Joyce, and Griffith said in a joint statement. &ldquo;This letter is crucial in our commitment to eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/manchin-reportedly-outlines-demands-for-democrats-climate-change-child-tax-credit-plan\/\" title=\"Manchin Reportedly Outlines Demands For Democrats\u2019 Climate Change, Child Tax Credit Plan\">federal health care programs<\/a>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>They stressed that Republicans, during this congressional term, have focused on advancing legislation to protect vulnerable Americans, especially seniors.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Continued oversight is crucial to uphold the integrity of programs that serve our most vulnerable populations,&rdquo; the committee leaders added. &ldquo;We applaud the ongoing work being conducted by HHS-OIG in cracking down on the fraud that has occurred, and we look forward to addressing the larger-scale scheme that is draining public resources from Americans who need these services the most.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said Medicare home health and hospice fraud directly undermines the safety and reliability of care for America&rsquo;s most vulnerable seniors.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;With $1.2 billion in improper payments in home health claims and the inspector general <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/hospicenews.com\/2024\/10\/11\/hospice-fraud-casts-lengthening-shadow-over-future-of-industry\/\">reporting<\/a> $198 million in suspected hospice fraud, Gavin Newsom&rsquo;s California could just as well be another Minnesota,&rdquo; Smith told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;The Ways and Means Committee will not hesitate to use our broad oversight authority to get to the bottom of this and protect taxpayers and vulnerable patients against these bad actors.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4407227\/califraudia-report-losses-250-billion\/\"><strong>&lsquo;CALIFRAUDIA&rsquo; REPORT PUTS STATE FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE LOSSES AT $250 BILLION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The congressional Republicans are requesting a meeting with the HHS OIG by Jan. 23 to discuss the evidence of massive Medicare fraud occurring in Los Angeles County and any recommended actions to stop ongoing or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-introduces-bill-to-recover-billions-in-stolen-unemployment-benefits\/\" title=\"GOP Introduces Bill to Recover Billions in Stolen Unemployment Benefits\">prevent future fraud<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The illegal actions by a few <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-intelligence-workforce-is-vastly-outnumbered-by-chinas-fbi-director\/\" title=\"China has a significantly larger intelligence workforce than the US, says FBI Director.\">impact patient care<\/a> and public trust across the entire sector,&rdquo; the lawmakers wrote. &ldquo;As Members of Congress committed to improving patient outcomes and reducing fraud in the health system, not only do we want to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, but more importantly, we must do all we can to ensure the safety and wellbeing of beneficiaries, who are often unwitting pawns in fraudsters&rsquo; illegal activities.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>House GOP seeks probe into California Medicare fraud<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3767,"featured_media":2534868,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25312831979718_506037.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[70801,32455,70802],"class_list":["post-2534867","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-hhs-oig","tag-house-gop","tag-medicare-fraud"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25312831979718_506037.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2534867","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3767"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2534867"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2534867\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2534871,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2534867\/revisions\/2534871"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2534868"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2534867"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2534867"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2534867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}