California Hospice Fraud Is Out Of Control (04/22)

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Summer is here. At orderly meds, we know this time is a reminder that life is full of new beginnings. Whether you're celebrating the nice weather, starting a new chapter, planning a vacation, or simply looking ahead to what's next. This season can be the perfect time to invest in yourself and your health. If you've struggled with weight loss and are curious about GLP1 medications, orderly meds can help you learn about your options. Through a simple virtual process, you can connect with licensed medical professionals who can determine whether treatment may be appropriate for you. Getting started is fast, convenient, and happens online from the comfort of home. This summer, consider a new approach to feeling your best. Visit orderlymeds.com slash podcast to learn more. That's orderlymeds.com slash podcast. Orderlymeds.com slash podcast. Because every new season is an opportunity to take the next step forward. Compounded medications are not FDA approved. Eligibility required and determined by a licensed provider. Individual results may vary. See website for details. Discover a spectacular island destination with crystal blue seas, endless sunshine, and the cool Bahamian breeze. Bahamara, located in Nassau, Bahamas offers your choice of three luxury hotels. Over 45 fine dining and nightlife venues, John Batiste's all-new jazz club, the Caribbean's most luxurious casino, and one-of-a-kind experiences for the entire family, like our 15-acre tropical water park, wildlife sanctuary, world-class golf course, and so much more. Visit bahamar.com to... Today. Experience vibrant senior living with award-winning services at Brightview Senior Living Communities. At Brightview, our residents enjoy resort-style amenities, daily programs, exciting social and cultural events, and delicious chef-prepared meals. But that's not all. Brightview residents also enjoy complementary transportation, safety, security, and high-quality care if needed. Brightview Senior Living communities. Learn more about the possibilities at Brightview, senior living.com. Bite into a stacked sandwich made with hero bread. And the only thing you'll think is... Delicious! You won't think it has up to 19 grams protein, 11 to 32 grams of fiber, or just 0 to 5 grams net carbs, but it does. Hero Bread. No compromises, just loaves, buns, tortillas, bagels, and noodles, packed with flavor. Right now, get 10% off at hero.co with code iHeart. That's hr-o.coe, code iHeart. All figures per serving of Hero Bread, see Nutrition Facts on Hero.co. KFI AM 640. You're listening to the John Cobell podcast on the IHeart Radio Lab.

We're on every day from three until six, and then after six o'clock, John Cobalt show On Demand on the I Heart app. I found the story that I remembered. Last time, Nick Schultz, who was an assemblyman from the Burbank area, last time he was in the news was a year ago, and he was blocking a bill that would make it a felony for someone who is soliciting 16 and 17-year-olds for sex on the street. He was trying to protect those creepy weird adults who go looking for 16-year-old girls or boys. I think Scott Weiner was involved in the... blocking of this particular bill. So that's when Nick Schultz made the news. Well, he's back. He's very upset that there is, that Carl DeMaio is exposed this Stop Nick Shirley Act, which is something the legislature came up with to stop investigative reporters like Nick Shirley from exposing all the fraud and the waste going on in California government. We're going to play cut four here, Eric. And this is Nick Schultz about the act and demile. This is intentional because the misinformation is rampant and I rest it solely at the feet of a certain member from San Diego who quite intentionally is doing this. Since 2016, the rise in online threats resulting in real-world violent attacks have spurred the need for these laws. Let me be extraordinarily clear again to the member from San Diego. There is no, and not Dr. Sharp Susan Collins. She's delightful. There is no part of this bill. None. that prevents law enforcement district attorneys or the attorney general of the great state of california from investigating fraud notwithstanding uh what those in acting in bad faith might claim and i will also note to the opposition witness that was here today and i did appreciate your testimony sir I would respectfully say that there's no part of this bill that impedes your ability to do your job. If I'm the subject of a journalistic approach, I would argue that you can certainly come at me. You don't necessarily need to publicly disclose where I live or where I take my children to school for you to do your job. And I'm not suggesting that's what you said, sir, but that's the point. This is about setting in place real guardrails to protect people. These programs are not new. They have been the law in the state for 25 to 30 years, and yet only after online agitators and disingenuous actors, including members of this legislature, raise the specter of concern. Are we seeing the opposition expressed over the last week? And I'm fired up because as... More? No, continue.

I'm fired up because as we heard from Assembly Member Banta, this is resulting in real threats and harassment targeted at members of this body. And if they're targeting members of this body, I can only imagine what others, especially those who try to provide critical support services to our immigrant community, what they're facing every day that we don't even know about. So assembly member, thank you for your tireless work. In defending our communities of color and our undocumented residents, who all have contributed to the success of our state and our part of our state, we stand with you all at the appropriate time. Well, you people at Burbank. The people you put in office from Adam Schiff to Nick Schultz, holy moly. Illegal aliens, that's what he's all riled up about. Well, let's get Carl DeMaio on. Apparently, Carly, you're a very bad, bad, bad guy. You know, I'll give one thing to Nick Schultz. He's a very convincing liar. I've never seen someone sit there, clutch his pearls, and take the moral high ground when it's very clear. Anyone can read the bill. Section 6218.19B1 clearly says in plain English, a person, business, or association shall not publicly post. on the internet an image of a designated immigration support services provider. Period. End of story. There's no debate here. This is about stopping the Nick Shirley's of the world from taking video of empty daycare centers. and fake hospices operating in a building in L.A., 90 of them in a building in L.A. with no patients, no nurses, no medical supplies, but millions and millions of dollars of fraud of taxpayer money. Nick Shirley will not be allowed to post video evidence of any fraud that he uncovers or he's committing the crime under Section 6218.19B1. This is not a debate. This is what the bill states. And remember, Nick Schultz also said a year ago that no one is trying to stop enforcement against people who are buying girls and boys for sex. Well, well, guess what? The reality is the bill that he killed AB 379...

would have made it a felony crime to purchase minors for sex. And then suddenly he comes back a week later after his rear end is handed to him at a town hall in Los Angeles. And I have to thank you, John, for letting everyone know where his town hall was so they can go and give him a piece of their mind. He came back and said, okay, you know, we're going to do this and we were going to do this all along. This guy is a liar. He's unfit for office. And, you know, I just... submit to the voters of his district, throw the SOB out of office. He's doing nothing but harm in Sacramento. One year, he wants to make it easier for creepy guys to pick up 16-year-old boys and girls. The next year, he's trying to stop Nick Shirley from exposing the massive fraud going on in government. I mean, who the hell needs this guy in office? Nick Schultz is a real... What they do, John, is... when they're caught. And the only thing he's angry about is the fact that we caught him. We caught Mia Banta. We caught the Democrats because guess what? We read the bills. And then we present the plain English legislative text. And then they sit there denying it. Literally, they are caught with their hand in the cookie jar. They are trying to criminalize something protected under the First Amendment, which is taking videos in public spaces to reveal fraud. They're trying to criminalize that, and when they're caught doing it, they pretend to be the victims. Do you notice how he says, oh, my goodness, we've been threatened. Look, I'm not for anyone being threatened. And there are laws against that. But when a legislator tries to do something dishonest or underhanded or illegal, when a legislator tries to protect people who are buying 16 and 17-year-old girls and boys, he did the same thing a year ago. He said, oh, my goodness, I've been threatened. I've been threatened. Again, no one wants to see him threatened. But you know what? You're going to face heat, Nick Schultz, when you do the wrong thing, when you betray the voters. And don't sit there and pretend to be a victim when your voters call up and they're angry and give you a peace of their mind. And I like the trick they tried to pull. They tried to hide behind this concept that immigrants are being harassed because Shirley was interviewing the Armenian immigrants who were running the hospice scams and suddenly accusing possible criminals. of stealing tax money is considered harassment of immigrants. I mean, that was a real clever trick, but it didn't fly. No, it doesn't fly, but that's what they do. They try to say that someone's being threatened. There's violence. Guess what? It's already against the law to harass. or threaten violence against someone. That's already in state law. So when I saw this bill and they said, oh, we're going to try to make it illegal for you to threaten violence against, you know, some of these workers, volunteers, owners of these hospices and fake Somali leering centers. I said, wait a minute. It's already against the law to threaten someone with violence. What is this really about? So I read the bill. And there it is, in plain English, their true sinister intent.

is to stop citizen journalists. And by the way, when he sat there and said, oh, you know, nothing in this bill prevents Rob Bonta from investigating and prosecuting fraud, I've never said that. The thing I have said is Mr. Banta isn't doing his job. I have never said that this bill stops him from doing it. What I have said is that Mr. Banta refuses to do his job. That's the problem. All right, Carl, thanks a lot for coming on. Thank you. All right, Carl DeMaio, he's the assemblyman down from San Diego. We'll have more, including a clip of what Nick Shirley chased down one nutty state senator Susan Marco Rubio, and you'll see her reaction. Summer is here. At orderly meds, we know this time is a reminder that life is full of new beginnings. Whether you're celebrating the nice weather, starting a new chapter, planning a vacation, or simply looking ahead to what's next. This season can be the perfect time to invest in yourself and your health. If you've struggled with weight loss and are curious about GLP1 medications, orderly meds can help you learn about your options. Through a simple virtual process, you can connect with licensed medical professionals who can determine whether treatment may be appropriate for you. Getting started is fast, convenient, and happens online from the comfort of home. This summer, consider a new approach to feeling your best. Visit orderlymeds.com slash podcast to learn more. That's orderlymeds.com slash podcast. Orderlymeds.com slash podcast. Because every new season is an opportunity to take the next step forward. Compounded medications are not FDA approved. Eligibility required and determined by a licensed provider. Individual results may vary. See website for details. Discover a spectacular island destination with crystal blue seas, endless sunshine, and the cool Bahamian breeze. Bahamara, located in Nassau Bahamas, offers your choice of three luxury hotels. Over 45 fine dining and nightlife venues, John Batiste's all-new jazz club, the Caribbean's most luxurious casino, and one-of-a-kind experiences for the entire family, like our 15-acre tropical water park, wildlife sanctuary, world-class golf course, and so much more. Visit bahamar.com to... today. How do you want to spend your day? At Brightview Senior Living communities, you decide and will take care of the rest. Pamper yourself at the salon and pursue your creative passions. Toast with your friends at Happy Hour and savor chef prepared meals. Close out the day with a concert just down the hall from your apartment. Or simply relax. The choice is yours. Enjoy the comforts of home and the security of award-winning care. Discover the possibilities at Brightview Senior Living.com.

Bite into a stacked sandwich made with Hero Bread or a fully loaded bagel. And the only thing you'll think is... Delicious! You won't think it's up to 19 grams of protein, but it is. You wouldn't believe it has 11 to 32 grams of fiber, but it does. Hero Bread makes loaves, buns, tortillas, bagels, and noodles hacked with taste, but without all the net carbs. We're talking zero to five grams net carbs per serving. With Hero Bread... There are no compromises, just flavor. There's none of the stiff baked goods you'd expect from Better for You Brands. There's just the soft, fluffy bread you crave. Plus, small batch drops of indulgent favorites, like the popular 2 gram net carb hero croissant and 3 gram net carb hero pan of chocolate. And right now, Hero Bread is offering 10% off your order. Go to hero.co and use code iHeart at checkout. That's code iHeart at hr.c.co. All figures per serving of Hero Bread, see Nutrition Facts on Hero.co. You're listening to John Cobelt on demand from KFI AM 640. Well, we just talked with... Carl DeMaio is the Republican Assemblyman from San Diego. He's the one who blew the whistle on the Stop Dick Shirley Act. And boy, did that send all the progressives in Sacramento into a fury, into a tizzy. They are foaming at the mouth with anger because they were caught. They were caught trying to be clever and try to block investigations by independent journalists into all the fraud. And Nick Shirley is the guy who, among other things, uncovered a lot of hospice. fraud showing on video all the empty fake hospices in Van Nuys. They were like over a hundred of them in one building complex. And they just had heart attacks and heart failure over this. Because it's the truth. They all allowed this. And I imagine many of these people are getting kickbacks from all these organized crime members who are allowed to steal money through Medicare and Medicaid with the fake hospice. That's got to be the upside. They've been caught, and maybe there's more to catch on them. How could, if they're this angry to the point where they wanted to violate the First Amendment by stopping independent investigators like Nick Shirley from posting video investigations of fraud? Why do they, they're covering something up? They're hiding something. And it's got to be that they were part of the corruption, that they were getting the money. What else could it be? Here's how nutty they are. Here's a California state senator, Susan Marco Rubio. Shirley confronts her. It's about 30 seconds. Now, understand, she wrote the bill. She's a co-author. And listen to her play pretend. Here's one of the authors of the bill. How are you guys doing? We just want to ask you about the bill and why you guys would pass this bill that really is an attack on free speech. I'm not even sure what you're talking about. You said an author. I don't think that's not. Did you sign to pass this bill? The AB 26? 24. Do you know what I'm talking about? No. You do not.

Are you serious? We're talking about something random. Okay. She's a fool. By the way, she's your state senator if you live in East L.A. County. Good job on that. Yes, she knows. Yes, she's a co-author. Yes, she helped write the bill. Yes, she wants to stop you from finding out how your money is being wasted by these fake hospice owners. about all the fraud that's going on. That's your tax money. Shirley provided the proof of it. Marco Rubio's pretending she didn't even write the bill. You know, she doesn't even go on a righteous, does a righteous indignation speech on how terrible it is that people are being harassed as immigrants by independent journalists. She doesn't even do that. She pretends and she knows nothing about it. These are crazy, crazy, crazy people that we have in office. And they're the majority. We have a majority of lunatics in Sacramento. This is tens of billions of dollars of fraud. Guess. who finally found the story. The New York Times. When I come back, here it is. Front page today. California is rife with hospice fraud. They even mentioned Nick Shirley. Nick Shirley's right. And they put a lot of the blame on the Gavin Newsom administration. New York Times, for God's sakes, okay? It's not a mirage. It's not an illusion. It's reality. You're listening to John Cobalt on demand from KFI AM 640. John Cobelt Show on every day from three into six, three until six o'clock. Yeah, podcast is after six. Moist Line is 877 Moist 86, 877 Moist 86. We're going to do it Friday. You can also use the talkback feature. All right, so we had Carl DeMaio on earlier in the hour. Carl DeMaio was getting blasted by this weirdo Nick Schultz. He's an assemblyman from Burbank. And Schultz is feigning outrage that DiMaio blew the whistle on the Stop Nick Shirley Act, which would wake what Nick Shirley does illegal in California using video cameras to expose fraud if the fraud includes shots of immigrants, really, because you had these Armenian immigrants running these fake hospices and Van Nuys and Shirley put them on videotape. They're out in public. This was all... public access outdoors. The public could access any of the areas that Nick Shirley accessed. And these immigrants were standing in public and arguing with Nick Shirley over what was going on. So there's been a lot of, what I saw is a lot of stuff from Gavin Newsom and his, the psychopathic liars in his press office, and some of these people in the assembly and state senate who wrote this law, and people online and commenters, and they were trying to put together this story. Well, there's not that much fraud, and it's Trump's fault anyway, and this is all made up, and this is.

Total nonsense. CBS has found it. Fox News has found it. An assemblywoman did her own investigation. It has found it. Nick Shirley found it. And now the New York Times has founded. The New York Times. I want to see all these progressives argue with the Times. And they have a writer there, Sumia, Carlin Mangla. And here's her story. Headline. Front page today. California, rife with hospice fraud. But whose fault is it? Who? What are these fake questions? Because they want to blame it on the federal government. And if you have the time to go through this lengthy story, you find out mostly it's the state. In fact, in 2022, the state had a joint task force report. And their own headline, this is the California Gavin Newsom government, their own headline is the state's weak oversight of hospice agencies has created opportunities for large-scale fraud and abuse. 2022, a state report in the Gavin Newsom administration. But they didn't do anything about it. So in the New York Times, the story is hospice fraud in California has been remarkably brazen. Medicare recipients have been signed up for care without their knowledge by thieves who stole their identities. Providers have paid kickbacks to people to enroll, even though they aren't terminally ill and don't qualify. Sham companies fabricate lists of employees. And Jason Smith, who's the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, had a hearing and said, Open border states led by Democrats like Minnesota, New York, and California are the epicenters of fraud in this country. California in particular had opened the door for millions to be stolen. And it's important that he described them as open border states because a lot of this money was fed to immigrants. The Somalis in Minnesota, the Armenians here in Los Angeles. I don't know if they're illegal or illegal. But this was a way of financing these groups. I'm sure a lot of the politicians are getting kickbacks. And it also builds loyalty so you get their votes by the tens of thousands. That's what the game was in Minneapolis, getting 80 to 100,000 loyal Somali votes. And in return, these people were allowed to enrich themselves with fake child care government funding. That's what they were doing. Here, the game was hospices. The Times said the simmering outrage against Minnesota and California has been stoked by Nick Shirley, a conservative content creator. What is conservative about exposing fraud? I hate that. It turns everything into this garbage debate, conservative liberal, and immediately people who are not conservative go, well, oh, it's just a right-wing mega thing. It's just a Trump. It's true. But that's how the Times suddenly shades the story, suddenly biases the story because they know most of their readers are left-wing, and they'll be triggered by seeing that description.

So Shirley posted a video in which he visited registered hospices in California that didn't seem to exist. Didn't seem to exist? No, they actually did not exist. They still don't exist. Times then writes, no one disputes that hospice fraud in California is a problem. Gavin Newsom does. They made Nick Shirley out to be a pedophile online. The federal government certifies hospice facilities. And provides the funding, but the state issues the licenses for hospices to operate. And the 2022 state audit found that a lack of state oversight had allowed hospices to be licensed with almost no vetting. They overbilled Medicare by millions each year and put patients at risk of receiving dangerous care. A Democrat in the State Assembly. said, hopefully there's now a new urgency around this because these are extremely vulnerable patients. They're vulnerable families. For a lot of hospices, their main goal is to just defraud Medicare. Here are some of the schemes. One scheme, a couple, was promised $300 a month to sign up for hospice care they didn't need. Fraudsters in Southern California purchased personal information off the dark web and began billing for fake hospice services for people whose identities had been stolen. There was no hospice service rendered, no actual hospice centers, or any paperwork, but these fraudsters made $267 million. They didn't even have paperwork. They didn't even have an empty center. They didn't provide any services to any patients. They just stole identities off the web and the government sent them checks. And Gavin Newsom never investigated it. In a one-mile radius in Van Nuys, there were 210 active hospice agencies, which is more than Florida and New York combined. In Van Nuys, in a one-mile radius, more hospices than Florida and New York combined. That's where Nick Shirley brought his video camera. That's what he posted online. And that's what Rob Bonta's wife, Mia Rob Bonta, wants to stop with a new law that would make Nick Shirley the criminal. That was her law protecting her husband who didn't do the basic investigation than Nick Shirley did. And now you have all these people running around screaming and lying. No, they're the criminals. They're the fraudsters. It's these assembly Democrats and these state Senate Democrats. And then when you catch them, when Shirley ran up to them, they go, oh, I didn't write that bill. No, I don't know anything about it. You don't know what you're talking about. And it goes on in this story. It's very long. You ought to read it. And it talks about Gavin Newsom's role in all this. God, there's just so much BS. So much nonsense and lies in garbage. But, you know, when you have a...

narcissistic psychopath running the state. This is what you get. We'll continue. And we got Susan Crabtree coming on after 3 o'clock. And she's involved in a big investigative story that we talked about earlier in the show. She and Christopher Rufo wrote about how Gavin Newsom gave a... billion dollars to all these, uh, all these nonprofits that funneled the money to illegal aliens. That's next. Summer is here, which means we all want to look and feel our best. A GLP1 may be right for you. Visit orderly meds.com to learn more about which GLP1 you could be eligible for. Getting started is fast, easy, and happens virtually through telemedicine from licensed professionals. Check it out for yourself. Go to orderly meds.com slash podcast. That's orderly meds.com slash podcast. Taking care of yourself feels great. Compat of medications are not FDA-approved eligibility required and determined by a licensed provider. Individual results may vary. See website for details. Discover a spectacular island destination with crystal blue seas, endless sunshine, and the cool Bahamian breeze. Bahamara, located in Nassau, Bahamas offers your choice of three luxury hotels. Over 45 fine dining and nightlife venues, John Batiste's all-new jazz club, the Caribbean's most luxurious casino, and one-of-a-kind experiences for the entire family, like our 15-acre tropical water park, wildlife sanctuary, world-class golf course, and so much more. Visit bahamar.com. today. How do you want to spend your day? At Brightview Senior Living communities, you decide and will take care of the rest. Pamper yourself at the salon and pursue your creative passions. Toast with your friends at Happy Hour and savor chef-prepared meals. Close out the day with a concert just down the hall from your apartment. Or simply relax. The choice is yours. Enjoy the comforts of home and the security of award-winning care. Discover the possibilities at Brightview Senior Living.com.

Bite into a stacked sandwich made with hero bread or a fully loaded bagel. And the only thing you'll think is delicious. You won't think it's up to 19 grams of protein. But it is. You wouldn't believe it has 11 to 32 grams of fiber. But it does. Hero bread makes loaves, buns, tortillas, bagels, and noodles packed with taste but without all the net carbs. We're talking 0 to 5 grams net carbs per serving. With Hero bread, there are no compromises. Just flavor. There's none of the stiff baked goods you expect from Better for You brands. There's just the soft, fluffy bread you crave. Plus, small batch drops of indulgent favorites like the popular 2 gram net carb hero croissant and the 3 gram net carb hero pano chocola. And right now, hero bread is offering 10% off your order. Go to hero.co and use code iHeart at checkout. That's code iHeart at hr.co.co. All figures per serving of Hero Bread, see Nutrition Facts on Hero.com. You're listening to John Cobalt on demand from KFI AM 640. Coming up after 5 o'clock, Susan Crabtree on. She's a political writer for real clear politics and also wrote a great book called Fool's Gold about all the disaster politicians we've had running California these past decades. She's going to come on. She and Christopher Rufo wrote a great investigation in the City Journal and the California Post about a billion dollars worth of... your tax money that was given to various illegal alien organizations. I'll give an example. Cherla got $110 million. Churla financed and produced the riots in Los Angeles last year. All those anti-ice riots, they're fake riots. They're actually, we're financed with your tax money. You're sitting watching TV and you're watching all the mayhem going on in downtown LA last June. Your money paid for that. They gave it to Churla, among other organizations. Chirla spent the money on the riot. Got a big advertising boost from Karen Bass promoting their rapid response network to get participants to show up and to riot. once things get out of hand. It's crazy. It's absolutely crazy what's going on. Speaking of crazy... Jennifer Seibel Gavin Newsom, the wife of Empty Headed Gavin, and she may be even emptier in the head. And it's hard to believe that the two of them are the first couple. But this is California, isn't it? And she is rapidly becoming the new Kamala Harris. We have a clip here. Today is Earth Day.

Discover a spectacular island destination with crystal blue seas, endless sunshine, and the cool Bahamian breeze. Bahamara, located in Nassau, Bahamas, offers your choice of three luxury hotels, the richly refined Rosewood, the playfully hip SLS, and the stylishly modern Grand Hyatt. With over 45 restaurants, bars, and lounges, Bahamas, serves up delicious dining from world-renowned chefs like Daniel Balloud and Marcus Samuelson. Nightlight venues like the new John Battista. Jazz Club and the Caribbean's most luxurious casino. At Bahamara, you'll find every pleasure under the sun and one-of-a-kind experiences for the entire family, like Bahá Bay, our 15-acre lush tropical water park, interactive wildlife experiences, including our daily flamingo parade, world-class golf, tennis, spa, and so much more. Visit bahamar.com today and discover a vacation destination where memories are made for a lifetime. Bahamara. Life Spectacular. How do you want to spend your day? At Brightview Senior Living Communities, you decide and will take care of the rest. Pamper yourself at the salon and pursue your creative passions. Toast with your friends at Happy Hour and savor chef prepared meals. Close out the day with a concert just down the hall from your apartment. or simply relax. The choice is yours. Enjoy the comforts of home and the security of award-winning care. Discover the possibilities at Brightview Senior Living.com. There's a fire inside you you can't ignore. Stand still, not a chance. You're a lifelong learner who's come this far. Now, we're here to help you keep going further. Capella University, what can't you do? Visit capella.edu to learn more.