Committee hears family accounts as bill mandates quicker hospice attestations to curb Medi‑Cal fraud

Assemblymember Lisa Macedo told the Senate Committee on Health that AB 2538 would strengthen patient protections and Medi‑Cal program integrity by requiring hospice providers to submit an online attestation tied to a patient's notice of election within five calendar days.

Proponents — including legitimate hospice providers and family members who say they were enrolled without clear informed consent — detailed how weak documentation and delayed paperwork can enable fraudulent operations that bill Medi‑Cal without providing promised services. Darren Peterson, CEO of American Quality Life Hospice, said the bill would create a necessary paper trail to prevent bad actors from exploiting vulnerable patients.

One witness recounted a case in which a man’s family received no copies of the admission packet, had no regular visits for months, and only later discovered the enrollment. "We were never told that hospice is usually for people who are no longer seeking curative treatment," the family member said of their experience.

Supporters told senators that past legislative action, federal‑state audits and the Department of Public Health’s emergency hospice regulations already document systemic problems; testimony noted prior recoveries and a finding that immediate measures were needed to avoid harm. The author accepted committee amendments that preserve agency flexibility while codifying timely attestation and recordkeeping standards.

Opposition did not register at the hearing; senators praised the bill’s intent and urged continued regulation and enforcement coordination with CDPH and DHCS.

Next steps: Committee advanced AB 2538 for further review; proponents and department staff said they will continue to refine implementation details and ensure systems can accept timely electronic attestations.