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[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
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John: WELCOME, WELCOME TO
"LAST WEEK TONIGHT!"
I'M JOHN OLIVER.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
IT HAS BEEN A BUSY WEEK.
UKRAINE CONTINUED TO PUSH INTO
RUSSIAN TERRITORY,
THE INTERNET TRIED TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT HAPPENED BEHIND THE SCENES
ON THIS MOVIE, AND
THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN TRIED TO
COUNTER THE ENTHUSIASM FOR THE
DEMOCRATS' NEW TICKET-- WITH
J.D. VANCE, A
MAN WHO PERPETUALLY LOOKS LIKE
HE GOT STUCK 10% OF THE WAY TO
TRANSFORMING INTO A WEREWOLF--
DESPERATELY TRYING TO SPIN THE
JOY OF HARRIS'S RECENT RALLIES
AS A NEGATIVE.
SHE SAYS SHE'S HAVING FUN.
BUT WHILE SHE'S HAVING FUN,
AMERICANS ARE SUFFERING UNDER
HER POLICIES.
WHEN SHE LAUGHS DURING A SPEECH,
REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE AMERICAN
FAMILIES CRYING THIS VERY DAY
BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD
GROCERIES.
WHEN SHE DOES THESE RALLIES AND
DOES THESE EVENTS AND DOES THESE
FAKE DANCES, REMEMBER THAT THERE
ARE PARENTS WHO LOST THEIR
CHILDREN TO DRUGS OR VIOLENCE
WHO WILL NEVER SEE
THEIR CHILDREN MOVE AGAIN, MUCH
LESS DANCE AGAIN.
John: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
SCOLDING PEOPLE FOR ENJOYING
STUFF BECAUSE THERE ARE SADDER
THINGS HAPPENING ELSEWHERE IS A
SHITTY THING TO DO, ALTHOUGH IT
DOES MAKE ME CURIOUS WHAT VANCE
IS LIKE IN OTHER SOCIAL
SITUATIONS.
"ALL RIGHT.
KIDS, ENJOY SEA WORLD, MEET US
BACK HERE AT 2:00, AND REMEMBER,
DOLPHINS WILL SOMETIMES KILL
PORPOISES FOR SPORT!
HAVE FUN!
SCIENTISTS CALL IT "PORPICIDE!"
ALSO, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH:
BUMMING EVERYONE OUT WITH
DEPRESSING FACTS ABOUT THINGS
YOU LIKE ISN'T HOW YOU BECOME
VICE PRESIDENT-- IT'S HOW YOU
PUT PEOPLE TO SLEEP ONCE A WEEK
WHILE AGING LIKE A WARTIME
PRESIDENT.
GET THE FUCK OFF MY CORNER!
THE TRUMP-VANCE CAMPAIGN HAS
BEEN TRYING TO DEFLECT CHARGES
OF REPUBLICANS BEING "WEIRD."
JUST LAST WEEK, TRUMP TOLD A
RALLY, "I THINK WE'RE THE
OPPOSITE OF WEIRD.
THEY'RE WEIRD."
AND TOLD A RADIO HOST,
"NOBODY'S EVER CALLED ME WEIRD.
I'M A LOT OF THINGS, BUT WEIRD
I'M NOT."
SO YOU KNOW IT'S GETTING TO HIM.
BUT ALSO, NOBODY'S EVER CALLED
YOU WEIRD?
BABE, BE SERIOUS.
YOU TRIED TO BUY GREENLAND, YOU
STARED AT THE SUN DURING A SOLAR
ECLIPSE, AND YOU DID THIS.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING A NORMAL
GUY DOES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT A NORMAL GUY
WOULD DO, BECAUSE I'M ALSO NOT
ONE, BUT I KNOW IT'S NOT THAT.
THE "WEIRD" LABEL HAS BEEN
PARTICULARLY HARD TO SHAKE,
BECAUSE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES
FURTHER DOWN THE BALLOT KEEP
COMPOUNDING IT, INCLUDING SOME
WHO WON PRIMARIES JUST THIS
WEEK, LIKE ROYCE WHITE.
HE BECAME MINNESOTA'S REPUBLICAN
SENATE CANDIDATE, AND HE IS A
LOT.
HE'S A FORMER NBA PLAYER,
FAR-RIGHT PODCASTER, AND A
DIE-HARD TRUMP SUPPORTER, AS
HE WILL TELL YOU.
DONALD TRUMP COULD GET UP ON
STAGE, PULL HIS PANTS DOWN, TAKE
A SHIT UP AT THE PODIUM, AND I
STILL WOULD NEVER VOTE FOR YOU
FUCKING DEMOCRATS AGAIN.
LET THAT SINK IN.
John: OKAY, I'M LETTING IT
SINK IN.
ALL RIGHT, IT'S SUNK IN NOW, AND
I DO STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
IS THERE A PLACE WHERE TRUMP
COULD TAKE A SHIT THAT WOULD
MAKE YOU VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS
AGAIN?
LIKE ON A MERRY-GO-ROUND, WOULD
THAT MAKE YOU VOTE FOR THEM?
OR IF HE SHIT INSIDE A GUMBALL
MACHINE, WOULD YOU VOTE FOR
DEMOCRATS THEN?
OR IF HE WENT INTO YOUR
BATHROOM, PUT THE TOILET LID
DOWN, AND SHIT ON THE TOILET
INSTEAD OF IN IT-- WOULD YOU AT
LEAST CONSIDER VOTING FOR AN
INDEPENDENT WHO CAUCUSES WITH
THE DEMOCRATS?
YOU KNOW WHAT?
LET THAT SINK IN AND GET BACK TO
ME.
WHITE'S BEEN ENDORSED BY
STEVE BANNON AND ALEX JONES,
WHOM HE ONCE SUPPORTED BY
WRITING THIS MESSAGE ON THE SIDE
OF HIS HEAD.
HE'S ALSO SAID-- AMONG OTHER
THINGS-- THAT HE'S NOT SURE IF
A PLANE HIT THE PENTAGON ON
9/11, CLAIMING THERE'S NO
FOOTAGE OF IT, WHICH, OF COURSE,
THERE VERY MUCH IS.
AND HE EVEN ONCE TWEETED OUT
THIS MAP HE CLAIMED SHOWED
"CRIME IN MINNEAPOLIS" IS "OUT
OF CONTROL", WHICH TURNED OUT TO
BE A MAP OF THE CITY'S DRINKING
FOUNTAINS, WHICH IS
EMBARRASSING.
THERE ARE SO MANY REAL CRIME
MAPS HE COULD'VE USED, LIKE THIS
ONE-- EXCEPT I'M KIDDING.
THAT'S NEW YORK'S RAT
INFORMATION PORTAL, YOU IDIOT!
YOU JUST GOT SCHOOLED BY THE RAT
MAP!
RAT MAP!
John: BUT WHITE'S JUST ONE OF
A NUMBER OF ODD GOP SENATE
CANDIDATES.
IN VIRGINIA, THERE'S HUNG CAO, A
RETIRED NAVY CAPTAIN WITH NO
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE, WHO'S ALSO
A VERY STRANGE MAN.
WE CAN'T LET IT TURN LIKE
THIS.
THERE'S A PLACE IN MONTEREY,
CALIFORNIA, CALLED
"LOVER'S POINT."
THE ORIGINAL NAME WAS
"LOVERS OF CHRIST POINT," BUT
NOW IT'S BECOME-- THEY TOOK OUT
THE CHRIST, IT'S
"LOVER'S POINT," AND IT'S
REALLY-- MONTEREY'S A VERY DARK
PLACE NOW, A LOT OF WITCHCRAFT,
AND THE WICCAN COMMUNITY HAS
REALLY TAKEN OVER.
WE CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN IN
VIRGINIA.
John: OKAY.
IF MONTEREY IS ACTUALLY OVERRUN
BY WITCHES-- WHICH IT'S NOT--
I'M FRANKLY FURIOUS THERE WASN'T
A WITCHCRAFT STORYLINE ON
"BIG LITTLE LIES."
HOW COULD YOU DEPRIVE US OF
NICOLE KIDMAN, SHOWING UP TO A
MOONLIT ORGY AND ANNOUNCING,
"WE COME TO THIS PLACE FOR
MAGIC?"
EVERYONE'S HEAD WOULD'VE
EXPLODED!
AND WHILE CAO AND WHITE ARE
UNLIKELY TO WIN, OTHER
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES LIKE
ERIC HOVDE-- NED FLANDERS
WITHOUT THE RAW, SEXUAL CHARISMA
-- DO HAVE A REAL SHOT.
THIS WEEK, HE WON WISCONSIN'S
SENATE PRIMARY IN A LANDSLIDE.
HE'S THE WEALTHY CEO OF A BANK
CALLED SUNWEST, SO HE'S
SELF-FINANCING HIS CAMPAIGN.
AND HE'S TAKEN SOME FLAK FOR NOT
JUST OWNING PROPERTY IN
CALIFORNIA, BUT SPENDING A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME THERE
-- SOMETHING HE TRIED TO DEFLECT
WITH THIS VIDEO.
IT'S GOOD TO GET OUT HERE FOR
A GOOD COLD PLUNGE.
SO THE DEMS AND SENATOR BALDWIN
KEEP SAYING I'M NOT FROM
WISCONSIN, HA, WHICH IS A
COMPLETE JOKE.
ALL RIGHT, SENATOR BALDWIN, WHY
DON'T YOU GET OUT HERE IN THIS
FROZEN LAKE AND LET'S REALLY SEE
WHO'S FROM WISCONSIN?
I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT DAY.
TAKE CARE.
John: WELL, NOW I'M HAVING A
TERRIBLE DAY, BECAUSE I DID NOT
WANT TO SEE THAT AT ALL.
WHY PHYSICALLY TORTURE YOURSELF
TO PROVE YOU'RE FROM WISCONSIN,
WHEN YOUR INCREDIBLY STRONG
ACCENT DOES THAT ON ITS OWN?
ALSO, CHALLENGING SOMEONE TO
MEET YOU IN A FROZEN LAKE TO
SCORE POLITICAL POINTS IS
PATHETIC.
I'D SAY IT WAS A DICK-MEASURING
CONTEST, BUT I'M GUESSING--
GIVEN THE TEMPERATURE OF THAT
WATER-- YOURS HAS DISAPPEARED
INTO YOUR BODY RIGHT NOW.
HOVDE'S VIEWS ARE WHAT YOU'D
EXPECT FROM A REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATE-- FROM SUPPORTING
REPEALING THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT TO BLAMING IMMIGRANTS FOR
"ALL THE CRIME THAT HAS
UNFOLDED."
BUT HE CAN ALSO BE PRETTY
AWKWARD WITH VOTERS, LIKE WHEN
HE SHOWED UP AT A JUNETEENTH
CELEBRATION AND A RADIO HOST
TRIED TO FEED HIM SOFTBALL
QUESTIONS.
AND I'M GOING TO WARN YOU: THIS
IS EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE TO
WATCH.
WHAT IS A FEW OF YOUR
TAKEAWAYS FROM BEING DOWN HERE
AT THE JUNETEENTH PARADE HERE?
IT'S A HELL OF A GOOD PARTY
AND I'M REALLY ENJOYING IT, MAN.
YOU KNOW, ALL THESE LITTLE
ENTREPRENEURS, SELLING THEIR
WARES, REALLY FRIENDLY PEOPLE,
GREAT FOOD.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'RE
GOING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS
THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT
BLACK CULTURE BEFORE THAT YOU
KNOW OF TODAY?
LOOK, I'VE SPENT A LOT OF
TIME IN BLACK CULTURE, AND AS
TOREY KNOWS, I'VE SPENT A LOT OF
TIME IN PLACES LIKE AFRICA,
BECAUSE I HAVE HOMELESS SHELTERS
FOR ABANDONED KIDS AND RESCUING
KIDS OUT OF THE STREETS.
AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN
SCHOOLING-- CHARTER SCHOOLS AND
THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
John: STOP TALKING!
STOP TALKING!
YOU ARE HURTING ME OR TO HEAR
THAT!
THERE ARE SO MANY EASY ANSWERS
TO THE QUESTION "WHAT HAVE YOU
LEARNED ABOUT BLACK CULTURE
TODAY" AND AMONG THE WORST IS
DEFINITELY, "NOT MUCH, BECAUSE
I'VE ALREADY BEEN TO AFRICA."
FUN FACT: BLACK AMERICAN CULTURE
ISN'T ACTUALLY SYNONYMOUS WITH
AFRICAN CULTURE.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY, JUST
GOOGLE "JUNETEENTH", OR ASK ONE
OF THE-- QUOTE-- "LITTLE
ENTREPRENEURS" YOU JUST MET.
THEY'LL FILL YOU IN.
AND LOOK, I GET REPUBLICANS WANT
TO GET OUT FROM UNDER
ACCUSATIONS OF WEIRDNESS.
BUT THE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO
STOP BEING SO FUCKING WEIRD.
BECAUSE FANTASIZING ABOUT YOUR
PARTY'S CANDIDATE SHITTING IN
FRONT OF YOU?
THAT'S WEIRD.
WARNING EVERYONE ABOUT THE
INFLUENCE OF MONTEREY WITCHES?
WEIRD!
INVITING YOUR FEMALE OPPONENT TO
JOIN YOU IN A FROZEN LAKE?
THAT IS VERY WEIRD!
AND I DO APOLOGIZE FOR LAUGHING
AT THESE PEOPLE.
PARTLY BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT
NICE.
BUT MAINLY, BECAUSE-- AS WE ALL
NOW KNOW-- J.D. VANCE BELIEVES
EVERY TIME SOMEONE LAUGHS,
SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD, A CHILD
LOSES THEIR GROCERIES FOR SOME
REASON.
AND NOW THIS.
Announcer: AND NOW...
NEWSCASTERS COME TO TERMS WITH
LIFE AFTER THE OLYMPICS.
AND JUST LIKE THE OUTCOME OF
THE OLYMPICS ARE ALMOST OVER.
SPEAK ABOUT MY GOING TO DO WITH
ALL OF MY TIME NOW THAT THE
OLYMPICS ARE OVER?
GOING TO GO BACK TO
TAYLOR SWIFT.
I GUESS I HAVE TO.
I GOT NOTHING TO WATCH.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING
TO DO WITH ALL THOSE TIMES.
IT JUST TEMPORARILY.
NOW WE CAN GO BACK TO HATING
EACH OTHER.
[LAUGHTER]
YEAH, I MEAN--
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS,
I'M KIND OF SAD THE OLYMPICS ARE
OVER.
IT WAS SO MUCH FUN.
THERE WERE SOME PERSONAL
BENEFITS TO THE OLYMPICS.
LIKE, WE DIDN'T HAVE A 30 MINUTE
NEWS PROGRAM FOR TWO STRAIGHT
WEEKS.
I MISS THE OLYMPICS.
DO YOU?
THEY WILL BE BACK IN FOUR
YEARS IN L.A.
HOPEFULLY I WILL BE BACK IN
FOUR YEARS.
I AM SO GLAD THE OLYMPICS ARE
OVER BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF CRYING
CRYING.
OKAY, WATCHING--
HAPPY TEARS.
TEAM USA ON THE TRACK,
ESPECIALLY THE WOMEN'S TEAM,
JUST A SMASHING GOLD AFTER GOLD
AFTER GOLD.
I'M TIRED.
I KNOW.
I AM TIRED.
YOU ARE TIRED.
MORE TIRED THAN I AM.
BUT YOU KNOW.
ALL RIGHT, CREWS HAVE REMOVED
A MASSIVE OIL CARCASS THAT
WASHED ASHORE ON THE BEACH THIS
WEEKEND.
John: MOVING ON.
OUR MAIN STORY TONIGHT CONCERNS
DEATH.
THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION:
"WHAT DOES THE INTERIOR OF AN
IHOP SMELL LIKE?"
LOTS OF US HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
DEATH.
AND LUCKILY, THIS NURSE ON
TIKTOK CAN ANSWER AT LEAST ONE
OF THEM.
HEY, GOOD NEWS TO ALL YOU
SINNERS OUT THERE.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYONE DYING
START SEEING SIGNS THAT THEY ARE
GOING TO HELL, DEMONS, FIRE,
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO I THINK WE'RE GOOD.
John: YEAH,
ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT, THOUGH?
BECAUSE MAYBE PATIENTS AREN'T
TELLING YOU WHAT THEY SEE.
I GET WHY SOMEONE WOULDN'T WANT
THEIR LAST WORDS TO BE:
HITLER,
JEFFREY EPSTEIN, AND WAIT-- IS
THAT MY CHILDHOOD DOG, RUSTY?
WHAT'RE YOU DOING HERE?
AND WHY DOES CHARLES MANSON LOOK
LIKE HE RESPECTS YOU?
WHAT DID YOU DO, RUSTY?
BAD BOY!"
THAT NURSE ACTUALLY WORKS FOR
THE TYPE OF MEDICAL BUSINESS
WE'LL BE FOCUSING ON TONIGHT:
HOSPICE.
AND I REALIZE THAT DOING AN
EPISODE ABOUT HOSPICE IS AN
ALMOST OFFENSIVE PARODY OF THIS
SHOW-- IF SOMEONE ELSE DID
THAT, IT WOULD GENUINELY BE
HURTFUL.
BUT I PROMISE, THIS IS WORTH
TALKING ABOUT.
AND YOU'RE PROBABLY AT LEAST
SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR WITH THE
CONCEPT OF HOSPICE-- IT'S
END-OF-LIFE CARE THAT HELPS
TERMINALLY ILL PEOPLE DIE
COMFORTABLY.
YOU MAY EVEN HAVE SEEN ADS FOR
HOSPICE ON TV-- AND IF YOU LIVE
IN SOUTHEAST CONNECTICUT, YOU
MIGHT'VE SEEN THIS WEIRDLY HORNY
ONE.
IF THERE WAS ONE THING I
COULD DO OVER, I WOULD HAVE
REACHED OUT SOONER TO CENTER FOR
HOSPICE CARE FOR MY HUSBAND.
WHEN CENTER FOR HOSPICE CARE
CAME INTO OUR LIFE, IT ALLOWED
ME TO BE WITH HIM.
TO REALLY BE WITH HIM WITHOUT
HAVING TO COORDINATE ALL HIS
CARE.
THEIR NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS,
AND OTHER CAREGIVERS GAVE ME THE
FREEDOM TO BE HIS WIFE AGAIN.
TO LOVE HIM LIKE A WIFE.
John: WOW.
THAT IS-- AND I SAY THIS WITH
ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY-- THE SINGLE
HORNIEST HOSPICE AD I'VE EVER
SEEN, FROM THE FERVID HAND
HUMPING, TO THIS ABSOLUTE
MASTERCLASS IN EYE-FUCKING, TO
THE EROTIC VEGETABLE-THEMED
FOREPLAY.
THAT LOOKS LESS LIKE A HOSPICE
AD AND MORE LIKE A VHS TAPE
CALLED "TANTRIC SEX FOR COUPLES
OVER 50."
HOSPICE IS DESIGNED FOR THOSE
WITH TERMINAL ILLNESS WHO
CHOOSE NOT TO GET TREATMENT TO
CURE OR CONTROL IT, AND IT'S
MEANT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE
PERSON AND THEIR FAMILY,
INCLUDING RELIEF OF SYMPTOMS AND
PAIN.
AND THAT SUPPORT CAN TAKE MANY
FORMS, EVEN ALLOWING FOR MOMENTS
LIKE THIS.
A HOSPICE PATIENT GOT A
SPECIAL VISITOR.
PEGGY GARRISON LOVES
FLAMINGOS.
SHE PAYS HOMAGE TO THE MAJESTIC
ANIMAL WITH 158 TRINKETS AND
DECORATIONS SHE'S COLLECTED
THROUGHOUT HER LIFE.
NOW THAT THE 75-YEAR-OLD IS IN
THE FINAL STAGES OF CANCER, A
FLAMINGO NAMED MANGO PAID HER A
VISIT FROM THE SAN ANTONIO ZOO.
THE SAN ANTONIO ZOO SAID IT WAS
HAPPY TO ALLOW MANGO TO MEET
PEGGY TO HONOR THE LIFE SHE
SPENT LOVING THESE ANIMALS.
John: THAT IS GREAT!
I LOVE THAT HAPPENED FOR PEGGY!
ALTHOUGH, DO SPARE A QUICK
THOUGHT FOR MANGO THE FLAMINGO
THERE.
IMAGINE IF YOU WENT TO THE HOME
OF SOMEONE YOU DIDN'T KNOW AND
THEY HAD 158 IMAGES OF YOU
EVERYWHERE.
YOU'D DEFINITELY THINK YOU WERE
ABOUT TO GET MURDERED.
THAT WOMAN AND HER FAMILY HAD A
POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR
HOSPICE PROVIDER.
AND THE GOOD NEWS IS, MANY, MANY
PEOPLE DO.
LOTS OF DEDICATED PEOPLE WORK
WITH HOSPICES, PROVIDING HUGE
RELIEF FOR DYING PATIENTS--
PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO WANT TO
REMAIN AT HOME, WHERE, IN MOST
CASES, HOSPICE CARE IS PROVIDED.
ABOUT 1.8 MILLION MEDICARE
BENEFICIARIES NOW RECEIVE
HOSPICE CARE EACH YEAR.
IN FACT, YOU'LL PROBABLY
ENCOUNTER HOSPICE AT SOME POINT
IN YOUR LIFE-- EITHER FOR
YOURSELF OR FOR A LOVED ONE.
AND AT ITS BEST, IT'S GREAT.
UNFORTUNATELY, AT ITS WORST, IT
IS NOT, AS THE HOSPICE INDUSTRY
HAS BECOME RIDDLED WITH STORIES
LIKE THESE.
A LOCAL COMPANY AGREES TO A
$75 MILLION SETTLEMENT OVER
ALLEGED OVERBILLING OF HOSPICE
SERVICES.
A CLEVELAND DOCTOR HAS BEEN
SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN
PRISON FOR HEALTHCARE FRAUD
CONNECTED TO HOSPICE OPERATIONS
IN THE STATE'S IMPOVERISHED
DELTA REGION.
CALIFORNIA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL
IS ANNOUNCING THE ARREST OF OVER
A DOZEN PEOPLE ACCUSED OF
RUNNING A HOSPICE SCAM IN THE
INLAND EMPIRE.
John: IT'S TRUE.
THERE IS A LOT OF HOSPICE FRAUD.
A SENTENCE, BY THE WAY, RECENTLY
VOTED "LEAST HOT" BY "THINGS TO
WHISPER INTO YOUR PARTNER'S EAR
DURING SEX" MAGAZINE.
BUT IT'S TRUE:
[WHISPERING]
THERE'S A LOT OF HOSPICE FRAUD.
[SPEAKS IN NORMAL VOICE]
IN FACT, ONE GOVERNMENT REPORT
ESTIMATED THAT HOSPICES'
INAPPROPRIATE BILLING COSTS
MEDICARE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS A YEAR, AND EXPERTS SAY
THEY BELIEVE THAT FIGURE TO BE
FAR HIGHER.
AND THE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES
HERE ARE THE LEAST OF THE
PROBLEMS.
SO GIVEN THAT, TONIGHT, LET'S
LOOK AT HOSPICE CARE:
HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK, AND
WHAT, TOO OFTEN, IS HAPPENING
INSTEAD.
AND LET'S START WITH THE FACT
THAT "HOSPICE," AS WE KNOW IT,
IS PRETTY NEW.
HERE'S A TV REPORT FROM 1979,
EXPLAINING IT TO AMERICANS AS IF
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
A NEW CONCEPT FOR TAKING CARE
OF TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS IS
GAINING INTEREST IN THIS
COUNTRY.
IT IS CALLED HOSPICE, AND COMES
TO US BY WAY OF ENGLAND.
THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND HOSPICE IS
THAT ONCE DEATH HAS BECOME
INEVITABLE, PATIENTS SHOULD BE
TREATED WITH GREAT ATTENTION TO
THEIR COMFORT AND EMOTIONAL
NEEDS.
John: YEAH, HOSPICE ACTUALLY
CAME FROM ENGLAND!
AND I KNOW THE BRITISH EXPORTING
A NEW WAY TO DIE SOUNDS LIKE THE
PERFECT SLOGAN FOR OVER
400 YEARS OF COLONIALISM, BUT IN
THIS CASE, IT WAS GENUINELY A
GOOD THING.
THE CONCEPT WAS ORIGINALLY
CONCEIVED BY DAME CICELY
SAUNDERS-- SEEN HERE LOOKING
LIKE SHE JUST SLASHED YOUR
TIRES.
SHE WAS AN ENGLISH DOCTOR AND
SOCIAL WORKER, WHO'D BEEN UPSET
BY THE "WRETCHED HABITS OF BIG,
BUSY HOSPITALS WHERE EVERYONE
TIPTOES PAST THE BED AND THE
DYING SOON LEARN TO PRETEND TO
BE ASLEEP."
WHICH SOUNDS BLEAK BUT REMEMBER,
THAT WAS IN THE U.K., HOME OF
THE FAMOUS WAR-TIME POSTER:
"KEEP QUIET AND DIE."
THE IDEA EVENTUALLY MIGRATED
OVER HERE AND THE FIRST AMERICAN
HOSPICE BEGAN CARING FOR
PATIENTS IN 1974.
MORE SOON FOLLOWED, MAINLY
CONSISTING OF "A CONSTELLATION
OF CHARITIES, MOSTLY RELIANT ON
VOLUNTEERS."
BUT IN 1982, REAGAN MADE A BIG
CHANGE, WHEN HE AUTHORIZED
MEDICARE TO COVER THE COST OF
HOSPICE, AFTER ADVOCATES
CONVINCED LAWMAKERS "IT WOULD BE
CHEAPER FOR MEDICARE THAN PAYING
FOR THE AGGRESSIVE TREATMENT
THAT SO MANY PATIENTS RECEIVED
UP UNTIL THEY DIED."
THAT MOVE MEANT THERE WAS NOW A
LOT MORE MONEY TO BE MADE IN THE
HOSPICE BUSINESS.
AND TODAY, OF THE COUNTRY'S
NEARLY 6,000 PROVIDERS,
THREE-QUARTERS ARE FOR-PROFIT.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND EARLIEST
WAS VITAS, WHICH WAS FOUNDED BY
TWO TEACHERS AND DON GAETZ, WHO
IS, FUN FACT, MATT GAETZ'S
DAD.
WHICH IS KIND OF SURPRISING.
I DIDN'T THINK GAETZ HAD PARENTS
IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE.
I JUST ASSUMED SOMEONE JIZZED ON
A "GOODFELLAS" POSTER.
VITAS MADE ITS FOUNDERS
EXTREMELY WEALTHY.
IN 2004, IT SOLD FOR
$406 MILLION TO CHEMED, BEST
KNOWN AS THE OWNER OF
ROTO-ROOTER, A PLUMBING COMPANY.
ON GLASSDOOR, CHEMED IS
DESCRIBED AS BRINGING "A
PROFESSIONAL DIGNITY TO TIMES OF
TRANSITION AND SEWER LINE
CLOGS."
SO NOW YOU KNOW WHO TO CALL IF
YOU'RE FACING YOUR OWN MORTALITY
AND/OR A BACKED-UP SHIT PIPE.
THE POINT IS, HOSPICES CAN BE
BIG BUSINESS.
AND IT'S WORTH TALKING ABOUT
EXACTLY HOW THEY MAKE MONEY.
BASICALLY, ONCE YOU'RE ENROLLED
IN A HOSPICE, THEY GET A FLAT
FEE EVERY DAY.
FOR ROUTINE CARE, IT'S A LITTLE
OVER $200 A DAY FOR THE FIRST 60
DAYS, AND A LITTLE LESS FOR
HOWEVER LONG YOU'RE IN HOSPICE
AFTER THAT.
AND THAT CAN CREATE A CLEAR
INCENTIVE TO SIGN UP AS MANY
PATIENTS AS POSSIBLE.
A MARKETER FOR ONE HOSPICE IN
GEORGIA WAS EVEN RECORDED
TELLING A SALES REP, "HOW DO YOU
SOLICIT PATIENTS?
YOU SEE SOMEBODY SITTING ON THE
FRONT PORCH IN A WHEELCHAIR AND
YOU HIT THE BRAKES."
AND YOU KNOW OUR SYSTEM'S BROKEN
WHEN A HOSPICE PROVIDER'S TARGET
DEMO IS "KIDNAPPED PORCH
GRANDMAS".
ONE BIG WAY HOSPICES CAN GET
REFERRALS, THOUGH, IS BY
BEFRIENDING STAFFS AT NURSING
HOMES AND DOCTOR'S OFFICES.
IN FACT, VITAS HAS BEEN
PARTICULARLY AGGRESSIVE IN ITS
SALES TACTICS, LIKE WHEN THEY
WERE CAUGHT DOING THIS IN THE
MIDDLE OF 2020.
TEXT MESSAGES WE OBTAINED
SHOW VITAS SALES PEOPLE VISITING
MULTIPLE BAY AREA NURSING HOMES
AND DOCTORS' OFFICES DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
THEY TOOK NUMEROUS SELFIES WITH
HEALTH CARE WORKERS, SOME
BRINGING GIFTS OF PIZZA,
CHICKEN, OR DOUGHNUTS.
UNDER ONE PICTURE, A REP EVEN
WROTE, "SIX BOXES OF THESE MADE
THEIR WAY INTO A LOCAL NURSING
HOME THAT ISN'T ALLOWING FOOD IN
FROM THE OUTSIDE."
A FELLOW EMPLOYEE TEXTED BACK,
"SNEAKY, SNEAKY."
ANOTHER EMAIL SHOWS A MANAGER
RUNNING A WEEKEND REFERRAL
CONTEST, SAYING, "WHOEVER GETS
THE MOST SELFIES WITH MEDICAL
PERSONNEL COULD WIN.
PERSONNEL INCLUDING NURSING HOME
STAFF, EMERGENCY ROOM STAFF,
PHYSICIANS, OR NURSES."
John: IT'S TRUE.
TO GET PATIENT REFERRALS, THEY
WERE SENDING SALES REPS INTO
NURSING HOMES, AND ENCOURAGING
THEM TO GET SELFIES WITH HEALTH
CARE WORKERS WHO WERE
INTERACTING WITH HIGH-RISK
POPULATIONS AT THE HEIGHT OF
COVID.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN
LITERALLY HATCHED BY THE
CORONAVIRUS ITSELF.
AND INCIDENTALLY, YOU KNOW
WHAT'S NOT "SNEAKY, SNEAKY"?
BRAGGING ABOUT YOUR UNETHICAL
SALES TACTICS IN WRITING--
THAT IS MORE "STUPID, STUPID".
SO THAT IS ONE WAY HOSPICES CAN
MAKE MONEY, GETTING AS MANY
PATIENTS AS POSSIBLE.
ANOTHER IS TO THEN SPEND AS
LITTLE ON THOSE PATIENTS AS YOU
CAN.
UNDERWHELMING CARE IS A
PERSISTENT COMPLAINT ABOUT
HOSPICES, WITH A RECENT SURVEY
FINDING "OVER 1 IN 5 FAMILIES
SAID THEIR HOSPICE AGENCY DID
NOT ALWAYS PROVIDE TIMELY HELP."
AND RECENT INVESTIGATIONS BY HHS
HAVE FOUND SOME ALARMING
EXAMPLES OF NEGLECT-- LIKE A
HOSPICE THAT BILLED MEDICARE FOR
17 DAYS OF CARE FOR A 70 YEAR
OLD PATIENT THAT THEY NEVER
VISITED.
INSTEAD, THEY JUST CALLED HIS
FAMILY TO INQUIRE HOW HE WAS
DOING.
AND IT IS HARD TO DEFEND THE
QUALITY OF THAT COMPANY'S
SERVICE WHEN THEY WERE-- QUITE
LITERALLY-- PHONING IT IN.
BUT IT GETS WORSE, BECAUSE THEY
ALSO FOUND MULTIPLE CASES OF
SEVERE NEGLECT, LIKE WHEN A
HOSPICE "SKIPPED HOME VISITS AND
FAILED TO ASSESS THE AMOUNT OF
PAIN ONE PATIENT ENDURED," WITH
THAT PATIENT EVENTUALLY
SUFFERING "A MAGGOT INFESTATION
IN HIS FEEDING TUBE" THAT
REQUIRED A TRIP TO THE EMERGENCY
ROOM.
WHICH IS HORRIFYING!
TREATMENT FOR DYING PEOPLE
IDEALLY SHOULD NOT SOUND LIKE A
SCENE FROM A FUCKING "SAW"
MOVIE.
AND PROVIDING SUBPAR CARE IS BAD
ENOUGH.
BUT SOME HOSPICES ENGAGE IN
OUTRIGHT FRAUD TO OVERBILL
MEDICARE.
BECAUSE IF PATIENTS REQUIRE A
HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE, HOSPICES
CAN BILL THE GOVERNMENT AT A
MUCH HIGHER RATE-- AS MUCH AS
$1500 A DAY FOR "CONTINUOUS HOME
CARE," SOMETIMES CALLED "CRISIS
CARE."
VITAS WAS EVEN SUED BY THE DOJ
IN 2013 FOR "BILLING MEDICARE
FOR MORE COSTLY CRISIS CARE
SERVICES WHEN CERTAIN PATIENTS
DID NOT NEED" THEM.
OVER EIGHT YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT
SAYS THAT VITAS GENERATED NEARLY
$1 BILLION IN REVENUE FROM
CRISIS CARE, AND WHILE THE
COMPANY DIDN'T ADMIT WRONGDOING,
IT DID PAY $75 MILLION TO SETTLE
THAT CASE.
YOU KNOW, THE KIND OF THING WE
ALL DO WHEN WE HAVEN'T DONE
ANYTHING WRONG.
AND VITAS IS BY NO MEANS THE
ONLY COMPANY ACCUSED OF DOING
THIS.
PASSAGES HOSPICE USED TO BE THE
BIGGEST HOSPICE COMPANY IN
ILLINOIS UNTIL THIS HAPPENED.
PASSAGES HOSPICE IN MOLINE
FORCED OUT OF BUSINESS TODAY
AFTER THE INDICTMENT OF ONE OF
ITS OWNERS ON FEDERAL FRAUD
CHARGES.
LAWYER SETH GILLMAN OF
LINCOLNWOOD WAS CHARGED BY THE
FEDS LAST MONTH FOR ALLEGEDLY
OVERCHARGING MEDICARE AND
MEDICAID.
THE COMPANY AND ITS 300
WORKERS STATEWIDE, HISTORY.
GILLMAN FACES UP TO 15 YEARS IF
CONVICTED.
I WOULD DESCRIBE HIM AS THE
LOWEST FORM OF LIFE.
HE DESERVES WHAT'S COMING TO
HIM.
John: WOW.
YOU KNOW HOW WRETCHED YOU HAVE
TO BE FOR A MIDDLE AGED
MIDWESTERN WOMAN TO CALL YOU
"THE LOWEST FORM OF LIFE"?
SHE DIDN'T EVEN DRESS IT UP WITH
A "HE'S NOT MY CUP OF TEA" OR "I
THINK HE HAS A LOT TO ANSWER
FOR."
THAT IS MIDWESTERN FOR, "I HOPE
HE DIES IN PAIN, AND I'LL
PERSONALLY BLOCK TRAFFIC TO
ENSURE AN EMPTY FUNERAL HOME."
GILLMAN WAS EVENTUALLY SENTENCED
TO SIX AND A HALF YEARS IN
FEDERAL PRISON FOR MASTERMINDING
A $20 MILLION FRAUD SCHEME THAT
INCLUDED ENROLLING PATIENTS IN
EXPENSIVE IN-PATIENT CARE THEY
DIDN'T NEED.
FAMILIES TOLD REPORTERS THAT
PASSAGES EMPLOYEES EVEN MISLED
THEM INTO BELIEVING THEIR LOVED
ONES HAD SERIOUS OR TERMINAL
ILLNESSES WHEN THEY DIDN'T.
A FEDERAL COURT FOUND GILLMAN
POCKETED MILLIONS ANNUALLY, AND
ENJOYED A LAVISH LIFESTYLE THAT
INCLUDED CORPORATE AIRPLANES,
AND LUXURY SPORTS CARS, BEHAVIOR
HIS OWN LAWYER, IN A COURT
FILING, PARTLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE
FACT HE WAS "INGESTING COCAINE
ON A DAILY BASIS."
THAT WAS HIS DEFENSE.
IMAGINE HOW GUILTY YOU HAVE TO
BE FOR YOUR OWN LAWYERS TO SAY:
"YOUR HONOR, MY CLIENT MIGHT AS
WELL BE SHAUN WHITE THE WAY HE
WAS SHREDDING DOWN MOUNTAINS OF
PURE WHITE POWDER.
I'M TALKING IN HIS DEFENSE, YOU
UNDERSTAND."
BUT IT'S NOT JUST EXAGGERATING
THE AMOUNT OF CARE PATIENTS ARE
GETTING.
HOSPICES CAN ALSO ENROLL
PATIENTS WHO SHOULDN'T EVEN BE
THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
BECAUSE WHILE THERE IS A
REQUIREMENT PATIENTS HAVE A LIFE
EXPECTANCY OF SIX MONTHS OR
LESS, MOST OF THE MEDICARE
SPENDING ON HOSPICE IS NOW FOR
PATIENTS WHOSE STAYS EXCEED SIX
MONTHS.
AND LOOK, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A GOOD
THING WHEN SOMEONE LIVES LONGER
THAN THEIR PROGNOSIS.
THIS SHOW IS NOT PRO-DEATH.
WELL, TO BE HONEST, SOMETIMES WE
ARE.
BUT MOST OF THE TIME, WE'RE NOT.
BUT THERE ARE WORRYING SIGNS
SOME HOSPICES ARE ENROLLING
PATIENTS WHO DON'T NEED THEIR
CARE.
AND ONE INDICATOR OF THIS IS THE
"LIVE DISCHARGE RATE"--
BASICALLY, HOW MANY PEOPLE LEAVE
HOSPICE ALIVE.
NOW, A SMALL AMOUNT OF "LIVE
DISCHARGES" ARE TO BE EXPECTED.
SOMEONE MIGHT BE CHOOSING A
DIFFERENT HOSPICE, OR EVEN
OPTING TO PURSUE CURATIVE CARE
AGAIN.
BUT EXPERTS TOLD US A LIVE
DISCHARGE RATE OF MORE THAN 30%
IS HIGH, AND ANYTHING OVER 50 IS
A SERIOUS RED FLAG FOR POSSIBLE
FRAUD.
AND YET, AN ANALYSIS IN
CALIFORNIA FOUND THAT LAST YEAR,
MORE THAN 500 HOSPICES THERE HAD
A LIVE DISCHARGE RATE GREATER
70% WITH 135 HAVING A 100%
LIVE DISCHARGE RATE.
WHICH IS WILD.
ONCE 100% OF PEOPLE IN YOUR CARE
ARE LEAVING ALIVE, YOU'RE NOT A
HOSPICE, YOU'RE A HOTEL.
AND STATISTICALLY, AN INCREDIBLY
SAFE ONE.
AND THERE ARE HORROR STORIES
WHERE PATIENTS HAVE BEEN KEPT IN
HOSPICE WHEN THEY CLEARLY DIDN'T
NEED TO BE.
TAKE WHAT HAPPENED TO
PATRICIA MARBLE.
AFTER HER DOCTOR RECOMMENDED
HOSPICE FOR HER, SHE SIGNED ON
WITH A COMPANY CALLED AMEDISYS.
BUT AS THE YEARS WENT BY, HER
DAUGHTER REALIZED SOMETHING
MIGHT BE UP.
MY MOM TRUSTED HER NURSE.
MY MOM TRUSTED THESE PEOPLE.
TRUSTING THEM SO MUCH, MARBLE
SAYS SHE DIDN'T QUESTION THE
LONG LIST OF DRUGS, INCLUDING
FENTANYL AND MORPHINE, TO MAKE
HER COMFORTABLE.
THE HYDROCODONE, THEY WOULD
SIT-- THEY SAT NEXT TO HER AND
TOLD HER SHE COULD TAKE IT
WHENEVER SHE WAS IN PAIN.
MEDICAL RECORDS SHARED WITH
FOX 25 INVESTIGATES SHOW MARBLE
REMAINED IN HOSPICE CARE FOR
FIVE YEARS.
THEN, EARLIER THIS YEAR, BRAGGS
SAID SHE WENT AGAINST THE
HOSPICE NURSE'S ORDERS AND
FINALLY TOOK HER MOM TO AN
OUTSIDE DOCTOR.
THE DOCTORS WERE TELLING ME
THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM, THAT
THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH HER BEING
ON HOSPICE FOR FIVE YEARS.
MEANWHILE, 76-YEAR-OLD
PATRICIA MARBLE IS STILL VERY
MUCH ALIVE.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING NOW?
I'M FEELING A WHOLE LOT
BETTER.
THEY JUST FED ME THE MEDICATION,
AND I JUST TOOK IT MYSELF, LIKE
SHE TOLD ME.
IT WAS SURREAL.
IT JUST-- ALL OF A SUDDEN, THIS
NURSE TURNS INTO RUNNING MY
HOUSEHOLD.
John: THAT IS AWFUL.
SHE WAS IN HOSPICE UNNECESSARILY
FOR FIVE YEARS, WITH THE COMPANY
BILLING MEDICARE ALMOST HALF A
MILLION DOLLARS FOR HER CARE.
THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN.
THERE IS A REASON YOU'VE NEVER
SEEN A LAWN SIGN THAT SAYS
"IN THIS HOUSE, LOVE IS LOVE,
SCIENCE IS REAL, AND WE'RE BEING
HELD PRISONER BY HOSPICE NURSES,
PLEASE SEND HELP."
NOW, I DO HAVE TO TELL YOU,
AMEDISYS INSISTED AT THE TIME
THAT ALLEGATIONS SHE WAS
DISCOURAGED FROM SEEING AN
OUTSIDE PHYSICIAN WERE
"COMPLETELY FALSE," THOUGH THEY
DID LATER ENTER A CONFIDENTIAL
SETTLEMENT WITH THE FAMILY,
WHICH HOPEFULLY THAT WOMAN GOT
TO ENJOY, BECAUSE SHE LIVED FOR
SEVEN MORE YEARS AFTER THAT
SEGMENT AIRED.
AND IT CAN BE EVEN EASIER THAN
THAT TO END UP IN HOSPICE
UNNECESSARILY.
BECAUSE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO
ADMIT A PATIENT ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THEIR MEDICAL
DIRECTOR, IN CONSULTATION WITH
THE PATIENT'S OWN PHYSICIAN, "IF
ANY."
BUT IF THAT "ANY" DOESN'T EXIST,
OR ISN'T AVAILABLE, THEN THE
WHOLE DECISION MIGHT COME DOWN
TO A DOCTOR ON THE HOSPICE'S
PAYROLL.
WHAT'S MORE, THERE'VE BEEN
MULTIPLE CASES WHERE DOCTORS
HAVE ACCEPTED BRIBES OR
KICKBACKS TO REFER AND RECERTIFY
PATIENTS WHO DIDN'T NEED CARE--
INCLUDING IN THIS INCREDIBLE
VIDEO.
YOU ARE LOOKING AT UNDERCOVER
VIDEO OF A DOCTOR ACCEPTING
KICKBACKS FOR REFERRING PATIENTS
TO HOSPICE CARE, PATIENTS WHO
DON'T NEED IT
WE WERE EXPECTING A LOT MORE
THAN THAT.
BUT DOC, YOU NEED TO HELP ME
GET SOME PATIENTS IN THE DOOR.
BUT WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?
I JUST GAVE YOU NINE PATIENTS,
WHAT THE [...] DO YOU WANT?
YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I CAN GET FROM
SOMEBODY ELSE FOR 25-- FOR NINE
PATIENTS?
[...] 250 BUCKS A PIECE.
John: YEAH, THAT'S A DOCTOR
ESSENTIALLY SELLING HIS PATIENTS
TO A HOSPICE AGENCY.
AND-- AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT
REMOTELY THE POINT-- BUT
HONESTLY, KIND OF LOWBALLING IT.
BECAUSE $250?
THAT'S IT?
YOU'RE SELLING HUMAN BEINGS, NOT
A PAIR OF FUCKING AIRPODS.
THAT SAME DOCTOR SERVED AS A
MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR A DIFFERENT
HOSPICE GROUP WHERE SEVERAL
NURSES TESTIFIED THAT THE VAST
MAJORITY OF HOSPICE PATIENTS
WERE NOT TERMINALLY ILL,
INCLUDING ONE WHO HAD A REGULAR
JOB AT WALMART.
THE GROUP EVEN ENROLLED PATIENTS
WITH ILLNESSES SUCH AS
ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA BY
FALSELY TELLING THEM THEY HAD
LESS THAN SIX MONTHS TO LIVE,
AND SENT CHAPLAINS TO LIE TO THE
PATIENTS AND DISCUSS LAST RITES
AND PREPARATIONS FOR THEIR
IMMINENT DEATH.
WHICH IS HORRENDOUS.
FRANKLY, ANYONE WHO KNOWINGLY
TOOK PART IN THAT DESERVES TO
ROT IN HELL.
EXCEPT, SADLY, WE NOW KNOW THAT
DOESN'T EXIST.
SO WHERE'S THE NEXT WORST PLACE?
TAMPA, I GUESS?
THEY DESERVE TO ROT IN TAMPA!
AND SOME HOSPICES DON'T EVEN
BOTHER LYING TO PATIENTS ABOUT
THEIR DIAGNOSIS--
THEY JUST ENROLL PEOPLE ANYWAY.
HOSPICES HAVE BEEN FOUND TO
ENLIST FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO ACT
AS MAKE BELIEVE CLIENTS, LURE
ADDICTS TO ENROLL WITH THE
PROMISE OF FREE PAINKILLERS,
DUPE PEOPLE INTO THE PROGRAM BY
CLAIMING IT'S FREE HOME HEALTH
CARE, AND HAVE EVEN STOLEN
PERSONAL INFORMATION TO ENROLL
"PHANTOM PATIENTS."
ESSENTIALLY ENGAGING IN IDENTITY
THEFT.
THAT IS HOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
ENROLLED IN HOSPICE WITHOUT EVEN
KNOWING IT.
IN MISSISSIPPI, A 29-YEAR-OLD
PREGNANT WOMAN LEARNED SHE'D
BEEN ENROLLED IN SOMETHING
CALLED "REVELATION HOSPICE,"
ONLY WHEN SHE VISITED HER DOCTOR
FOR A BLOOD TEST.
AND I WILL SAY, IF YOU'RE GOING
TO UNEXPECTEDLY DISCOVER YOU'RE
A HOSPICE PATIENT, THERE'S NO
MORE FITTING NAME THAN
"REVELATION HOSPICE."
THE ONLY WAY IT COULD'VE BEEN
MORE ON THE NOSE IS IF IT WERE
CALLED THE "SURPRISE, BITCH!
YOU'RE IN HOSPICE!" HOSPICE.
AND WHILE THAT'S CLEARLY
RIDICULOUS, IT CAN ALSO BE
DANGEROUS, BECAUSE-- AS THIS
JOURNALIST POINTS OUT-- WHILE
ENROLLING IN A HOSPICE DOES GIVE
YOU ACCESS TO CERTAIN TYPES OF
CARE, IT ALSO PROHIBITS YOU FROM
OTHERS.
HOSPICE, IT PROVIDES ONLY
PALLIATIVE CARE, NOT CURATIVE
CARE.
SO IF YOU SIGN UP FOR HOSPICE,
YOU LOSE, YOU KNOW, YOUR REGULAR
MEDICAL COVERAGE.
AND IN ONE CASE,
A WOMAN LOST HER PLACE ON A
TRANSPLANT WAITING LIST.
SO IT HAS REAL RAMIFICATIONS.
John: YEAH, YOU CAN LOSE YOUR
ACCESS TO LIFESAVING TREATMENT
IF YOU ENTER HOSPICE,
WHICH MAKES IT EXTRA BRUTAL WHEN
YOU CONSIDER THAT, AS YOU'VE
SEEN, PEOPLE CAN BE SIGNED UP
WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE.
A CANCER PATIENT LOST ACCESS TO
CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENT AFTER
BEING PUT IN HOSPICE WITHOUT HIS
KNOWLEDGE, AND OTHERS WERE
DENIED KIDNEY DIALYSIS,
MAMMOGRAMS, AND COVERAGE FOR
LIFE-SAVING MEDICATIONS.
AND THOSE JUST AREN'T THINGS YOU
SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE WITHOUT
REALIZING.
CHEMOTHERAPY ISN'T LIKE
A SET OF KEYS OR THE WIFE OF THE
HEAD OF THE CHURCH OF
SCIENTOLOGY.
WHERE'S SHELLY, DAVID?
WHERE'S SHELLY?
IT'S BEEN 17 YEARS.
I'M STARTING TO THINK SOMETHING
BAD'S HAPPENED.
NOW THE GOVERNMENT HAS TRIED TO
PUT SOME CONTROLS IN PLACE.
FOR INSTANCE, TO DISCOURAGE
HOSPICES FROM ENROLLING HEALTHY
PEOPLE INDEFINITELY, IT
PENALIZES ONES WHERE THE
AVERAGE STAY OF PATIENTS EXCEEDS
SIX MONTHS.
IT'S NOT A BAD IDEA IN THEORY.
UNFORTUNATELY, IN PRACTICE,
HOSPICES HAVE FOUND WAYS TO GET
THAT AVERAGE DOWN, LIKE PADDING
OUT THEIR ROSTER WITH NEW
PATIENTS, OR EVEN WORSE,
DUMPING OR DISCHARGING THOSE WHO
ARE STAYING TOO LONG, EVEN IF
THEY GENUINELY NEED CARE.
THE CEO OF ONE COMPANY, NOVUS
HEALTH SERVICES IN FRISCO,
TEXAS, WASN'T SHY ABOUT
ENCOURAGING HIS EMPLOYEES TO GET
PATIENTS OUT THE DOOR TO REDUCE
THAT AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY.
THESE ARE THE OFFICES OF
NOVUS HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN
FRISCO.
ITS WEBSITE SAYS IT OFFERS
HOSPICE AND HOME HEALTH CARE
SERVICES ALL OVER NORTH TEXAS.
BRAD HARRIS FOUNDED THE COMPANY.
THIS IS HIS PUBLIC PROFILE
PICTURE ON FACEBOOK.
THE FBI QUOTES HARRIS AS TELLING
ONE WORKER, "YOU NEED TO MAKE
THIS PATIENT GO BYE-BYE."
IN ANOTHER CASE, ASKING
HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES TO "FIND
PATIENTS WHO WOULD DIE WITHIN 24
HOURS," SAYING OF ONE OF HIS
PATIENTS, "IF THIS EXPLETIVE
WOULD JUST DIE."
John: HOLY SHIT.
LOOK, YOU COULD SAY THAT
BRAD HARRIS IS A GREEDY,
HEARTLESS MONSTER, BUT NOTHING
YOU COULD CALL HIM WILL EVER BE
AS INSULTING AS FEATURING THIS
PHOTO IN THAT NEWS REPORT-- A
PHOTO IN WHICH HE SOMEHOW
APPEARS TO BE DRUNK, HIGH, AND
SHITTING HIMSELF ALL AT THE SAME
TIME.
I'VE SEEN NEWSCASTS USE NICER
PHOTOS FOR SCHOOL SHOOTERS.
NBC 5 LOCAL NEWS IS FUCKING
VICIOUS.
BUT ONE OF THE KEY PROBLEMS HERE
IS, OUTSIDE OF MAJOR FRAUD CASES
LIKE THAT, THERE ARE SHOCKINGLY
FEW CONSEQUENCES FOR BAD
BEHAVIOR-- AND THE BARRIERS TO
OPERATING A HOSPICE CAN BE MUCH
LOWER THAN YOU'D THINK.
FOR INSTANCE, A MEDICAL
BACKGROUND ISN'T REQUIRED TO
ENTER THE BUSINESS.
AND MEDICARE ONLY REQUIRES THAT
HOSPICES BE INSPECTED ONCE EVERY
THREE YEARS.
AND SOME APPEAR TO SKIRT EVEN
THE MOST BASIC REQUIREMENTS.
FOR INSTANCE, STATE LICENSING
LAWS REQUIRE THAT HOSPICES AT
LEAST HAVE A PHYSICAL OFFICE,
WHICH DOESN'T FEEL LIKE TOO MUCH
TO ASK.
BUT A RECENT AUDIT IN CALIFORNIA
FOUND 112 HOSPICES ALL SHARED
THE ADDRESS OF THIS BUILDING IN
VAN NUYS.
WHICH IS RIDICULOUS.
THAT BUILDING CANNOT HOLD 112
OFFICES.
UNLESS, OF COURSE, THEY'RE OWNED
AND OPERATED BY MICE WORKING
WITHIN THE WALLS.
THAT'S RIGHT: MOUSE HOSPICE--
YOU CAN HAVE THAT IDEA FOR FREE,
PIXAR!
IT'S LIKE "RATATOUILLE" MEETS
THE FIRST TEN MINUTES OF "UP"!
WHY AREN'T YOU ALREADY MAKING IT
NOW?
AND BY THIS POINT, I THINK IT'S
PRETTY CLEAR, WE'VE STRAYED A
LONG WAY FROM THE IDEAL WITH
WHICH THIS TIRE-SLASHER STARTED.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO?
WELL, SOME STATES ARE TRYING TO
FIX THINGS-- THOUGH THOSE PLANS
CAN OFTEN RUN INTO OPPOSITION.
IN CONNECTICUT, A BILL THAT
WOULD'VE MERELY REQUIRED A STUDY
ABOUT BANNING PRIVATE EQUITY
OWNERSHIP OF HOSPICES STALLED
OUT LAST YEAR, AFTER OPPOSITION
FROM REPUBLICANS LIKE THIS MAN.
THE SUGGESTION THAT SOMEHOW
THE PROFIT MOTIVE IS SOMEHOW
ADVERSELY IMPACTS THE QUALITY OF
A BUSINESS IS A VERY DANGEROUS
THING TO DO IN AMERICA.
IF PEOPLE DIDN'T INVENT THINGS,
IF PEOPLE DIDN'T COME UP WITH
NEW CURES, THEN THEY WOULD NOT
EXIST.
AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A REASON
TO CREATE THOSE THINGS, THEN YOU
WON'T.
THIS IS AMERICA.
THIS IS A FREE MARKET COUNTRY.
THIS IS A CAPITALIST COUNTRY.
THIS IS NOT A SOCIALIST COUNTRY,
AND IT WILL NOT BE IF I CAN HELP
IT.
John: RIGHT.
HE VOTED NO BECAUSE HE BELIEVES
IN THE IDEALS OF AMERICA, WHICH
IS ALSO WHY-- AND THIS IS
TRUE-- LAST YEAR, HE WAS THE
LONE "NO" VOTE ON A RESOLUTION
EXONERATING THE VICTIMS OF THE
17TH CENTURY CONNECTICUT WITCH
TRIALS, PARTLY BECAUSE, AND I
QUOTE, HE DIDN'T WANT TO PAINT
"AMERICA AS A BAD PLACE WITH A
BAD HISTORY."
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WEIRDER:
THE FACT HE DID THAT, OR THE
FACT THAT CONNECTICUT DIDN'T
BOTHER TO EXONERATE VICTIMS OF
WITCH TRIALS UNTIL LAST YEAR.
WHAT HAPPENED THAT MADE THEM
SUDDENLY DECIDE TO ADDRESS THIS?
"YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS ASSUMED THE
WOMEN WE MURDERED IN THE 1600s
WERE GUILTY OF WITCHCRAFT, BUT
THEN I SAW "BARBIE", AND ABOUT
HALFWAY THROUGH THAT
AMERICA FERRERA SPEECH, I
THOUGHT, "OH SHIT!
THE WITCHES!
WE SHOULD REALLY GET ON THAT!"
BUT THANKFULLY, THERE HAS BEEN
SOME PROGRESS.
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, CMS
EMBARKED ON A PROJECT TO MAKE
UNANNOUNCED SITE VISITS TO EVERY
MEDICARE-ENROLLED HOSPICE, AND
AS A RESULT, IT'S SINCE REVOKED
THE MEDICARE ENROLLMENT OF 48 OF
THEM, WITH NEARLY 500 MORE
HAVING THEIR MEDICARE BILLING
PRIVILEGES DEACTIVATED, AND
REQUIRING ANOTHER INSPECTION
BEFORE THEY CAN BILL AGAIN.
WHICH IS A GOOD START.
CALIFORNIA'S ALSO PLACED A
MORATORIUM ON NEW HOSPICE
LICENSES-- ALTHOUGH THERE IS
CONCERN THAT BAD ACTORS ARE
SIMPLY EXPANDING INTO
LESS-REGULATED STATES LIKE
ARIZONA, NEVADA, AND TEXAS
INSTEAD.
AND EXPERTS SAY THERE'S STILL SO
MUCH MORE THAT WE SHOULD BE
DOING, INCLUDING TARGETING
HOSPICES WITH ESPECIALLY HIGH
LIVE-DISCHARGE RATES FOR
PARTICULAR SCRUTINY.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THESE
CHANGES ARE MADE, BECAUSE TO
REITERATE, HOSPICE CARE-- WHEN
DONE WELL-- IS HUGELY
BENEFICIAL TO THOSE WHO ARE
DYING, AND THEIR FAMILIES.
IT IS TOO IMPORTANT TO JUST HOPE
THE FREE MARKET FIXES IT.
AND IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW
IS LOOKING FOR HOSPICE CARE, I'M
AFRAID THAT RIGHT NOW, YOUR BEST
BET MIGHT BE TO RELY ON WORD OF
MOUTH RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND IF THOSE AREN'T AVAILABLE,
YOU CAN CONSULT THIS GOVERNMENT
WEBSITE.
IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT IT CAN AT
LEAST GIVE YOU SOME INFO ON THE
HOSPICE YOU'RE CONSIDERING.
AND IF THERE'S LITTLE TO NO
INFORMATION ABOUT IT, THAT MIGHT
BE A SIGN THEY'RE NOT REPORTING
THEIR QUALITY DATA TO MEDICARE,
SO I'D STRONGLY CONSIDER
SOMEWHERE ELSE.
LOOK, THIS INDUSTRY BADLY NEEDS
REFORM.
AND UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, AT THE
VERY LEAST, HOSPICE ADS SHOULD
BE REQUIRED TO PAINT A MUCH MORE
ACCURATE PICTURE-- EVEN IF
THAT ENDS UP LOOKING LIKE THIS.
♪ ♪
IF THERE WAS ONE THING I
COULD DO OVER, I WOULD HAVE
REACHED OUT SOONER FOR MY
HUSBAND.
I WANTED TO BE WITH HIM AGAIN.
TO REALLY BE WITH HIM.
TO SIT WITH HIM.
TO HOLD HIS HANDS.
TO INTRODUCE SOME SLICED
VEGETABLES INTO OUR ROUTINE.
THAT'S RIGHT.
RETURN TO HEART ENHANCE HOSPICE
CARE AND SEWAGE SOLUTIONS.
HERE AT HEARTS AND HANDS
HOSPICE CARE AND SEWAGE
SOLUTIONS, WE ARE PROUD TO BE
WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
WELL, NOT ALWAYS LITERALLY
THERE.
[LAUGHS]
WE MIGHT CALL YOU ONCE IN A
WHILE TO CHECK IN.
BUT THAT'S NOT A GUARANTEE.
WE LOVE OUR PATIENTS SO MUCH.
IT IS TRULY HEARTBREAKING WHEN
THEY PASS AWAY.
I ASSUME.
I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY SEEN THAT
HAPPEN BECAUSE LAST YEAR, WE HAD
A 100% LIVE DISCHARGE RATE.
WHICH, THE MORE I THINK ABOUT
IT, IS A LITTLE BEER.
IT'S NOT THAT WEIRD.
AND ONCE YOU ARE ENROLLED WITH
THOSE, YOU WILL RECEIVE
EXCELLENT CARE.
DON'T JUST TAKE THAT FROM ME.
TAKE IT FROM SOME OF OUR
PATIENTS.
♪ ♪
HEARTS AND HANDS IT IS
AMAZING.
GRANDMA WAS JUST SITTING ON HER
PORCH, MINDING HER OWN BUSINESS,
WHEN THIS MAN CAME UP AND
ENROLLED HER.
IT WAS THAT FAST.
WE ALMOST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE
WERE SIGNING.
THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING SURE MY
FINAL SIX MONTHS WERE
COMFORTABLE FOR THE LAST EIGHT
YEARS.
AND TO BE HONEST, I DON'T
THINK I WOULD HAVE EVEN NOTICED
IF ANY SOCIAL WORKERS OR NURSES
HAD SHOWN UP.
WE HAVE BEEN TOO BUSY
FUCKING.
MY BODY IS DYING BUT MY PENIS IS
NOT.
E.
FUCKING EVERYWHERE.
ON THE COUCH, IN THE KITCHEN.
IN THE MINIVAN.
IN THE FOYER.
BY THE TRASH CANS.
THAT'S IT YOU ARE SITTING
IN--
DON'T SIT THERE.
ESPECIALLY WALKS BY BY THE LAKE.
WE LIKE TO GET CAUGHT BY
JOGGERS.
BACK LIKE WE ARE MAD.
"HEY, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT!
STOP IT.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT,
PERVERT?
WE GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO
BRING JOY AND COMFORT TO OUR
PATIENTS.
WE CAN EVEN HOOK YOU UP WITH AN
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FLAMINGO.
IS FLAMINGO!
I NEVER WANTED TO SEE YOU
FLAMINGO UP CLOSE.
THAT FEELS CLEAR TO ME NOW.
THE FLAMINGO WAS FINE.
I THINK SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN
HAPPIER IF THE HOSPICE HAD
PROVIDED DRUGS OR NURSES OR
DOCTORS.
BUT NO.
IT WAS JUST COCONUT THE
FLAMINGO.
AND HONESTLY, COCONUT WAS PRETTY
USELESS WHEN GRANDMA HAD A
SEIZURE.
OH, MY OH, MY GOD!
GRANDMA!
COCONUT, DO SOMETHING!
WHY ARE YOU HERE?
♪ ♪
OUR BUSINESS IS MAKING SURE
YOU GET TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR
FINAL DAYS.
OR MORE SPECIFICALLY, THAT WE
GET TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR
FINAL DAYS.
YOU ARE GOING TO HELL.
HELL DOESN'T EXIST, FELLA.
I GOT THAT FROM A RELIABLE
SOURCE.
FUNNY STORY, I WASN'T EVEN
SUPPOSED TO BE IN HOSPICE.
TURNED OUT, MY DOCTOR TOOK A
BRIBE TO SIGN ME UP.
THAT MAKES SENSE.
A SICK MAN COULDN'T COME THIS
MANY TIMES A DAY.
HE WOULD DIE OF DEHYDRATION.
I COME SO MUCH.
SO YOU ARE NOT DYING?
NO.
I'M FINE.
YOU WANT TO DO IT AGAIN?
NO.
I'M FUCKING TIRED.
WHAT?
♪ ♪
HEARTS AND HANDS HOSPICE CARE
AND SEWAGE SOLUTIONS.
HONESTLY, WE ARE BETTER AT THE
SEWAGE PART.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
John: THAT'S OUR SHOW.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!
WE'RE OFF FOR THE NEXT TWO
WEEKS, BACK SEPTEMBER 8TH!
GOOD NIGHT!
♪ ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
ARE YOU THIRSTY?
I AM SO THIRSTY.
LET ME GET SOME OF THAT.
GET YOUR OWN.
OKAY.
♪ ♪
OH, MY GOD.
OH, THAT'S GOOD.
SO MANY FLUIDS IN MY MOUTH.
LET'S GO!
OKAY!