VANCE UNCOVERS $600M Medicare Theft Ring

(ProsperNews.net) – Vice President JD Vance’s anti-fraud task force suspended 447 Los Angeles hospices over $600 million in suspected Medicare theft, exposing a massive scam draining taxpayer dollars from vulnerable Americans.

Story Highlights

Vance-led task force escalates from 70 to 447 hospice suspensions in LA, targeting over $600M in fraud—a 539% surge in just weeks.
Federal “Operation Never Say Die” arrests doctors and operators who billed millions for ghost services to non-terminally ill patients.
California Democrats’ AB 2624 bill draws fire as a potential shield for fraudsters posing as immigrant providers.
LA County hosts 1,800 hospices, with 39% flagged for red flags like impossibly high patient survival rates.

Vance Task Force Delivers Major Blow to Hospice Fraud

Vice President JD Vance’s anti-fraud task force suspended 447 hospices and 23 home health agencies in Los Angeles for suspected Medicare fraud exceeding $600 million. This action marks a 539% increase from 70 suspensions reported in early April 2026. The task force, working with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services under Dr. Mehmet Oz, identified high-risk providers using AI-driven detection. Federal authorities executed arrests under “Operation Never Say Die” on April 10, targeting schemes that stole over $50 million. These measures protect taxpayer funds diverted from legitimate end-of-life care.

New: JD Vance Shuts Down 447 LA Hospices in $600M Fraud Crackdown https://t.co/6K4JmZlMOd

— Bigmoe (@Bigmoe16574013) April 15, 2026

Phantom Facilities Prey on Immigrants and Medicare

Los Angeles County shelters about 1,800 hospices, but a CBS analysis flagged over 700—39%—for multiple fraud indicators from a state audit. Fraudsters operate “phantom” facilities, billing Medicare and Medi-Cal for non-terminally ill patients, often immigrants and non-residents. Tactics include license flipping, stolen identities from the dark web, and cash incentives like $300 monthly payments plus vitamins. Concentrations cluster in areas like Van Nuys, with 42 licenses in four blocks. High survival rates, such as 85% versus the national average, signal fake enrollments with no real services provided.

Federal Arrests Target Brazen Operators

Federal prosecutors arrested defendants in “Operation Never Say Die,” including psychologist Gladwin Gill and nurse Amelou Gill, who billed $5.2 million using their daughter’s name to dodge prior bans. Lolita Minerd ran an Anaheim hospice with an 85% survival rate, while Nita Palma managed three facilities from prison. California DOJ’s “Operation Skip Trace” charged 21 suspects in a $267 million Medi-Cal scheme with 14 fake hospices. Arrests occurred in Covina, Anaheim, and Glendale, with charges of conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering. State probes target 300 more for license revocation.

These operations reveal systemic licensing failures that enable criminals to exploit vulnerable populations and erode trust in healthcare.

New: JD Vance Shuts Down 447 LA Hospices in $600M Fraud Crackdown – RedState https://t.co/x4KKVY7FmP

— Karyn Snyder (@KarynSnyder17) April 15, 2026

California Bill Sparks Outrage Over Fraud Protection

Assemblywoman Mia Bonta’s AB 2624, dubbed the “Nick Shirley Act” by critics, passed committee 11-2 to shield immigrant service providers’ privacy. Journalist Nick Shirley, who exposed hospice scams, calls it a fraud shield that criminalizes investigative reporting. Attorney General Rob Bonta, Mia’s husband, leads state charges but faces scrutiny over the bill. Critics argue it hinders exposure of fraud rings targeting immigrants. Meanwhile, Vance’s federal task force overrides state delays, setting a national model amid political tensions between Washington and Sacramento.

Taxpayers and Patients Bear the Cost

The $600 million in suspected fraud diverts funds from real patients needing care, compromising thousands of beneficiary records. Short-term suspensions disrupt services for legitimate users, while long-term recoveries could reach billions. LA’s immigrant communities, prime enrollment targets, suffer enrollment in sham programs. This scandal underscores federal overreach necessity against lax state oversight, aligning with widespread frustration over elite-protected waste. Both conservatives and liberals decry government failure to safeguard the American Dream from such corruption.