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A federal anti-fraud task force led by Vice President JD Vance has suspended hundreds of hospice providers in the Los Angeles area as part of a sweeping effort targeting suspected abuse of taxpayer-funded health programs.
Officials said the task force halted payments to 447 hospice providers and 23 home health agencies tied to more than $600 million in questionable claims. The suspensions mark a sharp increase in enforcement activity, rising significantly from earlier actions this month.
“Where there is fraud, the task force will find it,” a spokesperson for Vance said, according to reports.
The action is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to combat fraud in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, particularly in regions long identified by investigators as high-risk.
“To all fraudsters: good luck trying to hide from the Vice President’s task force,” a White House official also stated. “[The anti-fraud task force is] reviewing and pursuing every possible lead. These suspension numbers, and the dollar values saved, are only going to increase.”
Authorities have focused heavily on Los Angeles County, where officials say some providers billed for hospice services for patients who were not terminally ill or were unaware they had been enrolled. In some cases, investigators allege that stolen identities were used to sign up individuals and submit fraudulent claims.
Federal and state reviews have previously flagged a dramatic rise in hospice providers in the region, with one audit noting an increase of more than 1,500 percent over the past decade, along with widespread concerns about overbilling.
Republican lawmakers, including James Comer, have launched a probe into the issue’s oversight, arguing that state officials did not act quickly enough to address warning signs. In a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, lawmakers said the alleged fraud has burdened taxpayers nationwide and exploited vulnerable patients.
Officials said the task force is using advanced tools, including artificial intelligence systems, to identify suspicious billing patterns more quickly than traditional methods.
In addition to suspending payments, authorities can audit providers, seek repayment of funds and bar entities from participating in federal health programs.
