Vance anti-fraud task force suspends 221 California hospice and healthcare providers so far

FIRST ON FOX: The anti-fraud task force led by Vice President JD Vance revealed a staggering increase in California hospice and healthcare providers that were suspended as a result of the task force’s crackdown on fraud. 

Fox News Digital is told a total of 221 providers in Los Angeles have been suspended so far due to suspected fraud, including a number of providers who were raided by federal authorities early Thursday morning.

The latest number of suspensions marks a more than 215% increase from the 70 providers initially suspended in Los Angeles last week as a result of the task force.

"The Administration's War on Fraud once again yields results as more suspensions take place and fraudsters face justice for ripping off hard-working Americans and stealing their tax dollars and social services," a Vance spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "The Vice President and his task force are proud of these latest figures and expect to see this number continue to grow dramatically."

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Sources within the administration tell Fox News Digital that the number of hospice and home health providers that will be suspended is expected to dramatically increase.

"We expect this number to grow much, much higher in the coming weeks," a senior Trump administration official said.

The California Post reported that the FBI and SWAT teams arrested a number of individuals in California Thursday morning as part of a blitz on fraudulent businesses in the Los Angeles area.

That included the arrests of two individuals behind an alleged $7 million in fraud. 

"In 10 weeks we’re getting close to what Governor Newsom did in four years," Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz told the California Post.

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"Our task force isn’t wasting any time cracking down on fraud. This morning in the LA area, federal law enforcement is taking down fraudsters who stole $50M+ from Americans by defrauding our healthcare and hospice systems," Vance posted to X on Thursday. 

"In coordination with the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, federal law enforcement executed several arrests and search warrants in the Los Angeles area this morning targeting hospice and health care fraud," first assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli posted to X. "Operation Never Say Die involves 11 defendants who engaged in fraud totaling more than $50 million. Those arrested today will appear in federal court this afternoon."

The targeting of California providers fraudulently receiving federal funding has been alluded to by Vance and the Trump administration for several weeks. 

In early January, President Donald Trump posted that California "is more corrupt than Minnesota" when detailing his intentions to root out fraud.

Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom has consistently denied claims that fraud is not appropriately handled and addressed in his state. In March, a Newsom spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the governor had blocked $125 billion in fraud, and made a number of arrests. 

"Gavin Newsom runs a state," the spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "Donald Trump runs his mouth. Again and again, we’ve shown that the programs they are attempting to call out are programs the federal government is administering, not the state. We suggest they get their house in order."

Vance responded to a question about the anti-fraud task force posed by Fox News Digital at an event in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, earlier this month, saying that at least "$19 billion" has been uncovered in Minnesota and that the task force’s sights would also be set on California. 

In February, Vance and Oz revealed that $259.5 million in Medicaid funding would be withheld from Minnesota due to fraud concerns that had recently affected the state. The announcement came shortly before Gov. Tim Walz — former running mate of Kamala Harris — said he would not pursue a third term.