NOTE TO STUDENTS: Before answering the questions, watch the videos under “Resources” below.

1. What is hospice?

2. a) Define defraud (from para. 2).
b) How much money did the 8 people arrested for defrauding the government steal?

3. What are those who were arrested and federally charged accused of doing?

4. How many hospices are there in Los Angeles County? Of these how many are believed to be fraudulent?

5. Who did President Trump name the head of the recently created Task Force to Eliminate Fraud?

6. a) How much does the U.S. lose annually to healthcare fraud?
b) How does this affect us, the American taxpayers?

7. What type of fraud did the hospice owners arrested on Thursday commit?

8. In addition to the vast sums of taxpayer money stolen, what harm does health care fraud cause?

9. Watch the videos under "Resources" below the questions.

Hospice fraud in Los Angeles County is believed to be in the billions.

Per Google: Both state and federal authorities are responsible for monitoring hospice businesses in California, operating under a shared...oversight model.

-The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is responsible for licensing, conducting inspections, and investigating complaints

-The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) manage funding and provide oversight due to massive Medicare fraud.

Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom blames the federal government for the fraud. The DOJ says the state's failure to regulate hospice care enabled the massive Medicare fraud.

a) What do you think?
b) Ask a parent the same question.