At age 69, Lynn Ianni is a pickleball whiz, zipping from dinks to drives energetically. When she suffered an injury on the court two years ago, she sought physical therapy, and was surprised to learn her Medicare insurance wouldn’t cover it.

She was, according to Medicare records, dying and in hospice.

Lynn Ianni plays pickleball with CBS News correspondent Adam Yamaguchi and tells him about her experience being a victim of hospice fraud in Los Angeles County. Louie Mejia / CBS News

“They said, ‘you're in hospice.’ And I said, ‘what? What are you talking about?” Ianni said. “‘Are you kidding me? Do I look like I’m in hospice?’”

Ianni’s Medicare number had been stolen, and used by a company to fraudulently enroll her in hospice – specialized, compassionate care for terminal patients nearing the end of their lives. It was another example of fraud in the hospice industry, long a nationwide problem. But her case arose well after officials had promised to stamp it out in California, where the problem has been especially acute.
A tearsheet showing Bagnall’s approved and denied claims.

much more @
cbsnews.com/projects/2026/hospice-fraud/