Topic: Hospice

The hosts read notes from Associate Executive Producers, including tributes to mothers in hospice and requests for "jobs karma." The segment concludes with a comprehensive thank you to all donors contributing $50 and above, reinforcing the show's reliance on listener support.

Vice President J.D. Vance has been tasked with leading a federal crackdown on hospice fraud, specifically targeting "phantom" centers in California. "Operation Never Say Die" recently led to the arrest of owners in Anaheim whose facility had an 85% patient survival rate, suggesting they were bilking Medicare for patients who were not actually terminally ill.

Donations arrived from a global audience, including listeners in the Netherlands, the UK, and Denmark. A special "F-Cancer" prayer was requested for a producer's mother entering hospice in Copenhagen. The show concluded its financial segment by reminding listeners that they can contribute via Bitcoin, Circle stablecoin, or traditional methods at the show's donation website.

YouTuber Nick Shirley released a video exposing massive hospice and home healthcare fraud in California. He reports a 1,000% increase in hospice care in Los Angeles County, with many facilities existing only as empty offices. The fraud involves stealing Medicare beneficiary numbers to bill the government for services never provided to patients.

A 2019 California state audit confirmed large-scale hospice fraud, often linked to organized crime groups like the Armenian mob. Despite these findings, Governor Gavin Newsom has been criticized for failing to implement effective reforms. The hosts praise Nick Shirley's "stealth" investigative style for bringing public attention to issues that official government reports have failed to resolve.

Angelina Ireland, president of the Delta Hospice Society, shared a story on the Del Bigtree show regarding Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program. She alleged that the government revoked the society's land lease and expropriated its $8.5 million facility after the hospice refused to perform euthanasia on-site. The segment criticizes the Canadian medical system for prioritizing assisted death over traditional palliative care and notes the lack of media pushback due to government funding.

Reports suggest that HCA Healthcare staff may be pressuring families to move patients into hospice care to improve hospital mortality statistics. By moving terminal patients to hospice, their deaths are not counted against the hospital's quality ratings. This practice raises serious ethical questions about the prioritization of business metrics over patient care.

A review of 2020 CDC data reveals that thousands of deaths attributed to COVID-19 involved patients with terminal illnesses such as end-stage renal failure or cancer. Approximately 10,000 patients were already in hospice care at the time of death. Critics argue that the inclusion of these cases, along with deaths from heart disease and accidents, led to an overcounting of primary COVID-19 fatalities.

The show acknowledges several memorial donations, including a tribute to Bud Smith and Daniel Caracciolo, who passed away at ages 96 and 93 respectively. Contributions from producers in Chicago, Houston, and Vermont are read, with many donors requesting "de-douching" or "karma." The segment highlights the diverse geographic reach of the audience, from the West Texas oil fields to Toronto.

Updated CDC data reveals that COVID-19 is rarely the sole cause of death, with many fatalities attributed to underlying conditions like pneumonia, heart disease, and renal failure. The report notes that a significant portion of recorded COVID deaths involved patients already in hospice care or suffering from terminal illnesses. Media outlets like CNN are criticized for presenting these figures without context regarding pre-existing conditions.

The Illinois State Health Director admitted during a press conference that any decedent testing positive for COVID-19 is listed as a COVID death, even if they were in hospice for a terminal illness. This confirmation of broad classification rules supports claims that the official death toll is being artificially inflated. The hosts note that this contradicts Dr. Fauci's testimony regarding undercounting.

The Illinois Public Health Director clarifies that any individual who dies while testing positive for COVID-19 is counted as a COVID death, regardless of the actual cause. Pennsylvania reportedly removed 200 deaths from its official count due to similar reporting issues. The hosts discuss potential financial incentives for hospitals to over-report COVID cases to receive higher Medicare reimbursements.

Long-time supporter Sir James Spitzer shared a final update regarding his transition to hospice care following a 14-year battle with prostate cancer. Other producers, including Sir Eric of the Norwalk Archipelago, contributed to the show while sharing product recommendations like Jakeman's lozenges.

In a somber segment, the hosts posthumously knight "Crash Helmet Cathy," a long-time listener who recently passed away from cancer. Her nephew, Sir Scott, requested the honor in lieu of a traditional funeral. The knighting ceremony commemorates her loyalty to the show since the 2008 "Hot Pockets" tour.

A charity dinner in Austin, Texas, benefiting the Transitions hospice program, featured a controversial "Come to Jesus" theme. The menu consisted entirely of cheese-based dishes, including grilled cheese sandwiches with Jesus's likeness and onion soup gratin. The event was hosted by local realtors John and Chris to support the gay community and local hospice care.