Yes I just wasn't sure if the payment suspension you wrote about related to live discharges was national just for those 8-9 states under current review. Thanks for responding!
My understanding is that CMS can suspend payments for any hospice that has been found to have certain compliance issues. However, the vast majority of the recent suspensions have been concentrated in certain markets such as LA County, Nevada, other parts of California.
Jerry, I'm a compliance consultant, and this is 100% true. I have two current clients closing because of this. Neither in California nor guilty of committing known/rampant fraud. It is absolutely happening.
More info and context would help a reader understand - for example, do either / both operate to generate a financial return that satisfies owners / investors? did either / both have weak balance sheets?
Finally, "known/rampant" is doing all of the heavy lifting
Hospice fraud started with the Medicare hospice benefit, when somebody figured out you could make money in hospice
That now describes 80%+ of the "industry"
This didn't happen overnight or in the dark
It's been developing for over 40 years and especially the last 25 in broad daylight while everyone watched
I read it when it came out and forgot you talked to Edo
I certainly remember this: "I would say, every day since [April] 21, I’ve heard at least two to three companies closing their doors and trying to transfer their patients out to other hospices.”
If we do the math based on it holding true through today, over one hundred (100!) hospices have closed since April 21?
Across the country? Just in California? Just at one address?
Let's say it was 20 days when you spoke, that's still 40-60 hospices? Really?
Anyway, that's the kind of stuff that leads me to side-eye, use salt, etc
Well, info provided on background is fine, but Jim's a reporter so I'm sure he understands the value of finding people willing to go on the record, it really helps readers understand issues, context and most importantly establishes credibility
They're out there, it just takes digging
I think the problem here is that hospice news is an industry newsletter, not an independent news reporting publication
These are important issues, I'm committed to patients and families facing serious illness and end of life, through death care and final disposition to bereavement, memorialization and legacy, and it's annoying to see that trajectory financialized like fast food, and spoken of in those same terms by the same snakes in suits but that's where we are - hospice has been captured and corrupted
"WTWH offers a range of B2B solutions to boost your marketing efforts through our live & virtual events, custom content, webinars, podcasts and more. Talk with our team to learn more about our newsletter & display advertising, content syndication, retargeting and lead generation programs including account-based marketing (ABM)."
We dig and we dig and we dig, Buy at some point, we just have to call it and write the story, and we're not going to turn away a credible source because they don't wish to be named.
What I know is lots of vague stories from "the industry" but not much detail beyond "500 hospices with the same PO Box!! Near a taco stand!!! In California!!!!"
What I also know is that fraud only makes sense to me if what you're mostly trying to make money in the first place
Fraud in hospice started with the Medicare hospice benefit, when somebody figured out you could make money in this business
Is there any evidence that they are doing this to hospices in states not in the moratorium?
The CMS moratorium is national, though a couple of states have their own related to licensure, specifically California and Nevada.
Yes I just wasn't sure if the payment suspension you wrote about related to live discharges was national just for those 8-9 states under current review. Thanks for responding!
My understanding is that CMS can suspend payments for any hospice that has been found to have certain compliance issues. However, the vast majority of the recent suspensions have been concentrated in certain markets such as LA County, Nevada, other parts of California.
Yes I was just curious about the recent suspensions and their relevance to the 6-8 states. Thank you!
"Some are even going out of business as a result."
Objection - stated as fact without evidence
Jerry, I'm a compliance consultant, and this is 100% true. I have two current clients closing because of this. Neither in California nor guilty of committing known/rampant fraud. It is absolutely happening.
More info and context would help a reader understand - for example, do either / both operate to generate a financial return that satisfies owners / investors? did either / both have weak balance sheets?
Finally, "known/rampant" is doing all of the heavy lifting
Hospice fraud started with the Medicare hospice benefit, when somebody figured out you could make money in hospice
That now describes 80%+ of the "industry"
This didn't happen overnight or in the dark
It's been developing for over 40 years and especially the last 25 in broad daylight while everyone watched
I have confirmation from six sources on this.
More details would be helpful - otherwise it's just jazz hands
This is a companion piece to the Hospice News article. More details are available therein. https://hospicenews.com/2026/05/15/caught-in-fraud-dragnet-hospices-raise-alarm-over-suspended-payments-cite-increasing-closures/
Yes, right - thanks Jim
I read it when it came out and forgot you talked to Edo
I certainly remember this: "I would say, every day since [April] 21, I’ve heard at least two to three companies closing their doors and trying to transfer their patients out to other hospices.”
If we do the math based on it holding true through today, over one hundred (100!) hospices have closed since April 21?
Across the country? Just in California? Just at one address?
Let's say it was 20 days when you spoke, that's still 40-60 hospices? Really?
Anyway, that's the kind of stuff that leads me to side-eye, use salt, etc
Mentioning the names of the hospices would be unethical here.
Well, info provided on background is fine, but Jim's a reporter so I'm sure he understands the value of finding people willing to go on the record, it really helps readers understand issues, context and most importantly establishes credibility
They're out there, it just takes digging
I think the problem here is that hospice news is an industry newsletter, not an independent news reporting publication
I assure you, Jerry, the fact that we cover hospice and palliative care exclusively in no way compromises our independence or our integrity.
Hi Jim - I see what you did over there 😎
These are important issues, I'm committed to patients and families facing serious illness and end of life, through death care and final disposition to bereavement, memorialization and legacy, and it's annoying to see that trajectory financialized like fast food, and spoken of in those same terms by the same snakes in suits but that's where we are - hospice has been captured and corrupted
Thanks, Jerry
"WTWH offers a range of B2B solutions to boost your marketing efforts through our live & virtual events, custom content, webinars, podcasts and more. Talk with our team to learn more about our newsletter & display advertising, content syndication, retargeting and lead generation programs including account-based marketing (ABM)."
We dig and we dig and we dig, Buy at some point, we just have to call it and write the story, and we're not going to turn away a credible source because they don't wish to be named.
You're the editor 🤷♂️
More examples are available in California, where the epicenter of all this began.
Objection, vague nonresponsive
Jerry, do you have sources confirming this is NOT happening? I'd like to know about those sources, as it is not what I see day-to-day in my work.
What I know is lots of vague stories from "the industry" but not much detail beyond "500 hospices with the same PO Box!! Near a taco stand!!! In California!!!!"
What I also know is that fraud only makes sense to me if what you're mostly trying to make money in the first place
Fraud in hospice started with the Medicare hospice benefit, when somebody figured out you could make money in this business
It's been on the rise ever since
It's ubiquitous