California probe ends $267M in hospice fraud

(The Center Square) – California Attorney General Rob Bonta has announced the results of a massive hospice fraud bust in Los Angeles County. Known as Operation Skip Trace, the bust ended a hospice fraud scheme that defrauded Medi-Cal of $267 million, Bonta said. “These are funds that are paid for by Californian taxpayers, funds that are meant to provide care to Californians in need,” said Bonta at a press conference Thursday in Los Angeles. “It is unacceptable, it is illegal, and we will not stand for it.” Medi-Cal is California's version of Medicaid. On April 2, the Office of the Attorney General filed felony criminal charges against 21 suspects. Charges include health care fraud, money laundering and identity theft. OAG followed that on Wednesday by executing search and arrest warrants at 10 locations. Five suspects have been arrested so far throughout Southern California. “This is our case, a California