California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has signed two pieces of legislation designed to strengthen hospice oversight, Hospice News reports. The new laws include a moratorium on new hospice provider licenses as well as an extensive audit of California’s licensing and oversight processes.
State legislators began pursuing the bills following a Los Angeles Times investigation into alleged misconduct among California hospice providers.
The Times reported that the number of providers operating in the state has ballooned during the past several years, particularly among for-profit companies. This rapid expansion has contributed to rising instances of fraud and negligence, according to the Times, which also cited a “cottage industry” of kickbacks and deceptive practices. Read more.
