📝 SHOW NOTES

🎙️ The Mama Rae Podcast

📌 EPISODE SUMMARY

Hospice care is meant to offer comfort, dignity, and compassion at the end of life.

So why has Los Angeles become a hotspot for federal hospice fraud investigations?

In this episode of The Mama Rae Podcast, Mama Rae breaks down what public records, federal prosecutions, and inspector-general reports actually show — separating documented facts from circulating claims.

Drawing from Department of Justice cases, Office of Inspector General audits, and state licensing data, this episode explores:

• How hospice care is supposed to work

• Why the system is structurally vulnerable to exploitation

• How alleged “front” or sham hospices operate, based on federal cases

• Patterns and provider clusters observed in the San Fernando Valley

• How families can verify hospice legitimacy and report concerns

This episode is informed by investigative research and lived experience navigating the healthcare system, and is presented with care, clarity, and accountability.

🧭 WHAT WE COVER

• Why Los Angeles has an unusually high concentration of hospice providers

• How Medicare and Medi-Cal reimbursement structures can be abused

• Documented warning signs cited in DOJ and OIG cases, including:

• High-pressure admissions practices

• Eligibility fraud and “live discharges”

• Paper-only or “ghost” hospice operations

• Patient dumping when care becomes costly

• The Valley Map: what address clustering and licensing data reveal

• How to verify hospice providers and where to report suspected fraud

⚠️ IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS & DISCLOSURES

This episode is presented for educational, journalistic, and public-awareness purposes only.

All information discussed is based on publicly available sources, including:

• U.S. Department of Justice press releases

• HHS Office of Inspector General reports

• Court records

• State licensing databases

• Reputable investigative journalism

Any individuals, organizations, or entities referenced are discussed only in relation to documented public records or clearly labeled allegations.

Nothing in this episode should be interpreted as a legal determination of guilt unless established by a court of law.

This episode does not constitute legal, medical, or financial advice.

If you are navigating end-of-life care decisions, consult licensed medical professionals and verified regulatory agencies.

Listener discretion is advised due to discussion of healthcare systems, end-of-life care, and alleged exploitation of vulnerable populations.

🤝 PARTNER MENTIONS

(Editorially independent)

This episode is supported by partners who help make independent storytelling and investigative work possible.

🖤 COMFRT

Designed for everyday comfort and intentional living.

👉 https://www.comfrt.com/mamarae

🛼 C7 Skates

Supporting movement, balance, and community at every age.

👉 https://www.c7skates.com/girlmom_walkin

🎨 Mama Rae’s Work & Investigations

Books, investigative projects, artwork, and more:

👉 https://www.rachelye.com

Partner mentions do not influence the editorial content of this episode.

📣 CALL TO ACTION

If you or someone you love has experienced pressure tactics, neglect, suspicious billing, or abandonment related to hospice or palliative care — your voice matters.

You can:

• Verify hospice providers through the California Department of Public Health

• Check Medicare certification via CMS Care Compare

• Report suspected fraud to:

• HHS Office of Inspector General

• California Medicaid Fraud Control Unit

• Your local U.S. Attorney’s Office

If you’d like to share your experience — publicly or privately — you can reach out through Mama Rae’s socials or the podcast inbox.

Awareness protects families.

Documentation protects dignity.

🖤 FINAL NOTE FROM MAMA RAE

We don’t tell these stories to create fear.

We tell them to bring clarity, accountability, and protection where it matters most.

Keep your frequency high —

but keep your eyes wide open.