Hospice’s Bad Reputation Amid Fraud Crisis Will Hurt Patients, Industry Experts Warn

Hospice agencies in six states are facing a federal crackdown over widespread fraud allegations. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a six-month moratorium on new hospice provider enrollment in May, citing elevated fraud risk. KFF Health News reports that health policy experts worry these measures could discourage patients from seeking the end-of-life care they need. Mark Vantrease, seventy-six, has been receiving hospice care in California for over a year and credits the service with maintaining his quality of life and time with family. But healthcare providers are now reluctant to refer patients to hospice due to quality concerns, and the fraud crisis has damaged the industry's reputation. California's Attorney General called hospice fraud an epidemic, and the state imposed its own moratorium on new licenses back in twenty twenty-one. For-profit hospices now make up about ninety-four percent of California providers, raising questions about financial incentives. Experts say targeted enforcement against fraudulent operators is necessary, but regulations should not unfairly burden the many providers doing legitimate work.

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