But the Trump administration’s allegations of unchecked hospice fraud in California have tainted the industry’s reputation, prompting concerns that fewer patients will seek the care they need. A 2023 University of Chicago report commissioned by industry associations estimated that Medicare patients who used hospice over hospitals in 2019 saved taxpayers over $3 billion. The hospice industry is uniquely vulnerable to fraud because of insufficient licensing regulations and inadequate oversight, according to industry researchers. By the Bay Health has been in business for 50 years and serves around 750 hospice patients in the Bay Area. (Laurie Udesky for KFF Health News)Knier helps usher hospice patients and their families through critical turning points.