Patient rights
How to report a hospice in California
You can report a hospice to the state, to Medicare, to a fraud hotline or to the hospice itself, and you can do more than one. You do not have to complain to the hospice first, and the hospice may not punish you for complaining. The table says who handles what, with the number to call. If someone is unsafe right now, call 911.
Reviewed by Jack Demirchyan, Chief Operating Officer, October 20, 2026
On this page (6 sections)
Who to call for what
| The problem | Who handles it | How to reach them |
|---|---|---|
| Poor care, neglect, safety or a licensing question | California Department of Public Health, Licensing and Certification | File online in Cal Health Find (opens in a new tab), which routes the complaint to the district office for the county, or call CDPH at (800) 236-9747. |
| Hospice charges you never agreed to, or a hospice you never chose | Medicare, and the California Senior Medicare Patrol | 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048. Senior Medicare Patrol: 1-855-613-7080. |
| Suspected Medicare or Medi-Cal billing fraud by any provider | HHS Office of Inspector General | 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477), or the online form at oig.hhs.gov. |
| A resident of a nursing home, assisted living or board-and-care home | Long-Term Care Ombudsman | CRISISline 1-800-231-4024, 24 hours a day. |
| Someone unsafe right now | Emergency services, then Adult Protective Services | 911, then your county's Adult Protective Services line. |
| A concern about Beta Hospice | Jack Demirchyan, Chief Operating Officer | (877) 258-7129, info@betahospice.com, or 1525 N D Street, Suite 10, San Bernardino, CA 92405. Federal rules require us to investigate every complaint and record what we find. |
You may report to more than one. Reporting to Beta is never required before reporting to the state or to Medicare.
What to have ready
- The hospice's name, and if you have it, its Medicare provider number (CCN) or licence number.
- The person's name and the dates of care, or the dates on the bill.
- What happened, in your own words, and who you spoke to.
- The Medicare Summary Notice or plan statement, if it shows hospice charges.
- Whether the person is safe now, and where they are.
What happens after you report?
CDPH investigates complaints about licensed hospices and posts substantiated findings in Cal Health Find, where anyone can read them. Medicare can audit, suspend payment and end a hospice's participation. The Senior Medicare Patrol helps you read the bill and refers cases to investigators. None of this changes the person's own choices: you keep the right to change hospice once in each benefit period and to stop hospice at any time. Read patient rights.
You cannot be punished for complaining
Federal rule 42 CFR 418.52 gives every hospice patient the right to voice a grievance without reprisal. A hospice must investigate a complaint and write down what it found. If a hospice treats you worse after you complain, that is itself a complaint for CDPH.
Read more
How to verify a hospice, hospice fraud in California and switching hospice providers.
Protect yourself from hospice fraud
We will never ask for your Medicare number on this website or in an unsolicited call. No legitimate hospice offers gifts, cash or groceries for signing up. You can check any hospice, including us, on Medicare Care Compare (opens in a new tab) and CDPH Cal Health Find (opens in a new tab).
- Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
- Senior Medicare Patrol: 855-613-7080
- California Department of Justice, Medi-Cal fraud: 800-722-0432
- DHCS Medi-Cal fraud hotline: 800-822-6222
About this page
- Written by
- Beta Hospice care team
- Reviewed by
- Jack Demirchyan, Chief Operating Officer
- Last reviewed
- October 20, 2026
- Next review
- April 20, 2027
How we write and review this site
Sources
- 42 CFR 418.52: Patient's rights (the right to voice a grievance without reprisal) (opens in a new tab)
- CDPH Licensing and Certification: contact and complaints (opens in a new tab)
- CDPH Cal Health Find: facility lookup and complaints (opens in a new tab)
- California Department of Aging: Senior Medicare Patrol (opens in a new tab)
- HHS Office of Inspector General: fraud hotline (opens in a new tab)
- California Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (opens in a new tab)
These sources support the general information on this page. For one person’s care and coverage, talk with the hospice team.
You do not have to decide alone.
Call (877) 258-7129 any time, or leave your number and someone from Beta's hospice team will call you. No decision is needed to call. Most families start with a question.
Only a hospice doctor, together with the person’s own doctor, can confirm hospice eligibility. A website cannot.
- A nurse answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- You can stop hospice at any time
- You have the right to choose your hospice