Worth Knowing, Probably Not Quite Threadworthy 4/4

[SVPete]

FBI Busts $7.4 Million Hospice Fraud Scheme in Calif.

https://www.newsmax.com/us/fbi-hospice-fraud/2026/04/03/id/1251754/

The FBI arrested a married couple accused of fraudulently billing Medicare for $7.45 million while running a hospice with a survival rate reported to be more than 97% after five years, in what federal officials say is part of a broader crackdown on rampant healthcare fraud.

The early-morning Thursday raid in San Dimas, California, targeted Gladwin and Amelou Gill, who co-owned 626 Hospice, operating as St. Francis Palliative Care.

Authorities said the unusually high survival rate at the hospice — a major red flag given hospice patients are typically terminally ill — helped trigger the investigation.

A 97% "survival rate" is a massive red flag, and that it was over a 5 year period, yeah, fraud. A real hospice has very few patients, annually, who are discharged for no longer qualifying for hospice care.

As to this case, it's probably the first of many such.

[SVPete]

California gas prices are the highest in the U.S., but there's no proof of price gouging. Here's why.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-gas-prices-investigation-whats-to-blame/

For years, California leaders accused oil companies of price gouging.

Instead, a six-month-long CBS News California investigation revealed a complicated reality shaped by state policies, refinery closures, and global supply risks that uniquely impact California's isolated fuel market.

What CBS News California Investigates found:

* Why California gas costs more: Higher taxes, labor and business costs, combined with environmental programs, regulations, and the state's unique fuel blend, drive up baseline prices.

* The political narrative is shifting: After failing to prove price gouging — and grappling with the impact of two shuttered refineries — state leaders are now publicly acknowledging the need to incentivize oil companies to stay.

* Why refineries are leaving: Rising costs, increasing regulations, long-term policy uncertainty, and shrinking returns

* Why global conflict matters: California's growing reliance on overseas refining is increasing volatility — and validating long-standing industry warnings that outsourcing refining increases the risk of price spikes.
...
Last time gas hit $6 a gallon in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom began accusing oil companies of price gouging. California's supermajority Democratic legislature held a taxpayer-funded "price gouging" special session, culminating with legislation that was intended to cap oil company profits and force them to open their books.

More than two years later, state officials say they found no evidence of illegal price gouging. Instead, two refineries shut down, taking nearly 20% of the state's refining capacity.

California is now outsourcing to Asian refineries to make more of California's special gas blend. Environmental standards aren't as strict in Asia, and the refiners have to ship the gas back to California halfway around the world. In addition to increased pollution, transporting gas across the Pacific can take weeks, which agency heads and oil industry executives agree leads to delays and supply volatility, increasing the risk of price spikes during local refinery outages or global shortages.

Accusing oil companies of price gouging has bee a decades-long ritual for Sacto Dems ... and the investigations always conclude there had been no price gouging.

It's interesting to see CBS actually investigating real situations - e.g. the fraudulent SoCal hospices - and reporting facts, regardless of political appearances. Hopefully, this might become a trend.