Literature Review

Free webinar today by CHAP, 3-4pm ET: The National Hospice and Home Health Enrollment Moratorium | what we know so far Community Health Accreditation Partner; webinar will be presented by Kim Skehan, Jennifer Kennedy, and Teresa Harbour; posted 5/14/26 with webinar 5/15/26 Join CHAP and Kim Skehan for a timely discussion focused on what we currently know, what remains unclear, and how providers should be thinking about readiness, compliance, and next steps. Anyone can view and join online. During the webinar, we will cover:

Hospice fraud is becoming a political flashpoint. Why? National Public Radio WAMU; by Michelle Harven; 5/11/26 The state of California recently charged 21 people with hospice fraud, accusing them of costing the state $267 million. These types of schemes start with criminals opening up shell companies, signing recipients up without their knowledge, and then billing Medi-Cal for nonexistent services. This can have a serious effect on a senior’s ability to find care in the future. And it’s not just a state matter. The push to uncover this kind of fraud has become a political battle ... We sit down and talk about why we’re seeing this kind of fraud happen, who it harms, and why it’s become a political flashpoint.

US halting Medicare enrollments for new home healthcare and hospice providers Reuters; by Jody Godoy; 5/13/26 The Trump administration will temporarily block new home health and hospice providers on Wednesday from enrolling in Medicare, a senior administration official said, citing concerns about widespread fraud. The nationwide moratorium is the latest move by Vice President JD Vance's anti-fraud task force to crack down on healthcare scams, including those that affect Medicare, a U.S. government program providing health insurance to elderly and disabled Americans.

US halting Medicare enrollments for new home healthcare and hospice providers Reuters; by Jody Godoy; 5/13/26 The Trump administration will temporarily block new home health and hospice providers on Wednesday from enrolling in Medicare, a senior administration official said, citing concerns about widespread fraud. The nationwide moratorium is the latest move by Vice President JD Vance's anti-fraud task force to crack down on healthcare scams, including those that affect Medicare, a U.S. government program providing health insurance to elderly and disabled Americans.

We can fight fraud without threatening access to care RealClear Health; by Peter Pitts; 5/8/26 ... In recent months, the Trump administration has identified a small but significant number of bad actors that have cheated the system. These fraudsters aren’t just stealing taxpayer dollars — their actions are threatening access to quality care and undermining patients and families’ trust in Medicare. Those criminals should be removed from federal programs and prosecuted. ... But that’s not the full story. Not even close. ... This doesn’t have to be a choice between fighting fraud and protecting access to care. We can and must do both: root out fraud and protect access to high-quality hospice and home health care at the same time.

Local hospice leader exposes fraud draining millions in taxpayer dollars across Texas KWTX 10, Waco, TX; by Nicole Marino; 5/8/26 Texas hospice licenses have nearly doubled since 2020, with some operators billing Medicare for patients who don’t know they’re enrolled. ... Lisa McNair, president and CEO of Hospice Brazos Valley, testified before the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services in April with research showing the number of hospices in Texas has nearly doubled since 2020. There are now more than 1,300 hospices operating in the state. ... McNair told KBTX that the fraud is draining taxpayer dollars and eroding trust in legitimate end-of-life care.

CMS trains its program integrity sights on Texas Hospices JD Supra; by B. Scott McBride and Howard Young; 5/5/26 California has seen hundreds of hospice “takedowns” and Medicare payment suspensions targeting what the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proclaims are a multitude of fraudulent hospices, particularly in LA County. Now, based on recent public statements of CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, it appears CMS is poised to train its sights on fraud, waste, and abuse among Texas hospice agencies.

CMS posts information on hospice election notification pilot: Crushing fraud, waste, & abuseCMS.gov; 5/1/26 On April 30, 2026, CMS announced that they had expanded the Hospice Election Notification pilot from Nevada into California.  During the pilot, when a hospice provider files a Notice of Election, a notification letter is immediately sent to the beneficiary to make sure they know they have been enrolled in hospice. If they did not enroll, they are instructed to call 1-800-MEDICARE who can help with overturning the election. Since the start of the pilot in Nevada in May 2025, more than 25,000 letters have been issued.  A copy of the letter being sent to beneficiaries in these states is available here.

The Fraud Division launches West Coast Strike Force to target health care fraud schemes across Arizona, Nevada, and Northern California Office of Public Affairs; U.S. Department of Justice; Press Release; 4/20/26 The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division) today announced the formation of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force, a multi-district enforcement initiative uniting the Division’s Health Care Fraud Section with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Arizona, District of Nevada, and Northern District of California.  The Health Care Strike Force model has proven to be one of the most powerful tools in the federal enforcement arsenal, responsible nationally for the prosecution of over 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion.

Hospice scammer receives 2-year prison sentence Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 4/20/26 Alex Alexsanian, 48, received a federal prison sentence for defrauding Medicare of more than $14 million for hospice services and diagnostic imaging that was never provided. Alexsanian also pleaded guilty in January to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison and ordered to forfeit $3 million in proceeds from the scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He allegedly conspired to commit fraud with California hospice owner Sophia Shaklian, 38, who in March was sentenced to 35 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $14 million in restitution. 

Opinion: Restoring trust in hospice begins with ending Medicare fraud The Hill, Washington, DC; Opinion Contributor, Jennifer Sheets, CEO of the National Alliance for Care at Home; 4/28/26 ... While losing someone you love is excruciating, many families — including my own — feel a sense of relief by the comfort and improved quality of life that hospice offers. As a mother, nurse, and full-time caregiver for my own mom during her end-of-life journey, I am forever grateful for the providers who supported our family during our most difficult moments. So, when I hear instances of malicious hospice fraud, I am outraged — not just for the taxpayer who becomes the victim of waste, but ultimately for the individuals who could be deprived of this important care option because of the harmful actions of others. ... A recent study revealed that, understandably, older adults consider trustworthiness as extremely or very important when choosing a provider. It’s not lost on hospice professionals that trust is essential to our relationships with patients. We must give them every reason to believe in us — and most providers do by delivering compliant, patient-centered, and clinically appropriate care to patients with complex needs. 

Seven key moments: hearing on Medicare fraud United States House Committee on Ways & Means, Chairman Jason Smith, Washington, DC; Press Release; 4/27/26 [This is the official post from Rep. Jason Smith, Chairman  of the U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means.] Medicare fraud is a massive problem that costs taxpayers $60 billion every year and denies Americans access to their Medicare beneficiaries.

Hospice fraud enforcement in America: A running record of every publicy announced federal and state criminal action against hospice fraud between April 2025 and April 2026 LundPerson and Associates; by Judi Lund Person; updated 4/15/26 The facts, data, players, and more, with ongoing updates by Judi Lund Person, hospice regulatory expert.