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Hospice where staggering 97% of terminal patients survive is accused of defrauding Medicare for $7.45 million

April 2, 2026 / 10:18 AM EDT / CBS News

Hospice where staggering 97% of terminal patients survive is accused of defrauding Medicare for $7.45 million

TL;DR

  • Gladwin and Amelou Gill, owners of 626 Hospice (St. Francis Palliative Care), were arrested for allegedly defrauding Medicare of $7.45 million.
  • The hospice had an unusually high survival rate of over 97% after five years, a red flag for potential fraud.
  • Federal officials announced a series of arrests targeting hospice fraud nationwide.
  • A CBS News investigation found over 700 of approximately 1,800 hospices in Los Angeles County triggered multiple fraud red flags.
  • Warning signs for hospice fraud include low patient counts, excessive billing, shared staff across companies, and terminally ill patients discharged alive.
  • The House Oversight Committee launched an investigation into "rampant hospice fraud" in California, citing a CBS News report.
  • California's Attorney General's office has pursued over 100 criminal and two dozen civil cases against hospice industry defendants.
  • A moratorium on new hospice licenses in California has been extended through January 2027.