California charges 103 in-home care providers with Medi-Cal fraud

Attorney General Bonta announces $4.5 million scheme, draws election-season criticism from Republicans

By LineZotpaper

Published22 October 2026

Read Time3 min

California investigators have filed felony charges against 103 In-Home Supportive Services providers across 17 counties for allegedly defrauding Medi-Cal of more than $4.5 million, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Thursday in Los Angeles.

The enforcement action follows an investigation by the California Department of Justice's Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse alongside the California Department of Health Care Services. Officials say the providers unlawfully billed Medi-Cal for in-home care services while beneficiaries were admitted to acute care hospitals or skilled nursing facilities, where Medi-Cal also paid for the care.

"This isn't a political game for us," Bonta said during a press conference. "This is about protecting taxpayer dollars, protecting the programs that sick and vulnerable Californians rely on, and protecting our state."

The charged providers came from Butte, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, Lake, Los Angeles, Napa, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma and Tulare counties.

Critics argued the announcement comes too late and stems from political pressure. Michael Gates, the Republican candidate running against Bonta for attorney general in the Nov. 3 election, pointed to recent oversight findings. "Rob Bonta is a day late and a dollar short. He has been neglectful of this very fraud for five years," Gates said in an email. "A State Auditor Report came out a few months ago indicating that State Leadership knew about this waste, fraud and abuse and apparently did nothing about it."

Roxanne Hoge, chair of the Los Angeles County Republican Party, also questioned the timing. "Bless his heart, Rob Bonta never saw a parade he didn't want to get in front of," Hoge told The Center Square.

Bonta used the press conference to defend state oversight against criticism from Washington. He noted that his office has recovered over $1.5 billion in civil and criminal Medi-Cal fraud cases over the past decade. "In Washington, politicians accuse us of failing to fight fraud while at the same time threatening to withhold the Medicaid funding Californians count on," he said. "While the White House spreads myths about rampant fraud, we'll keep dispelling them, not with words, but with work."

He also responded to a federal lawsuit challenging California's voter rolls, in which federal officials alleged as many as 20,000 registered voters may be ineligible. "They showed us zero evidence," Bonta said, adding that his office filed a motion to dismiss. Separately, a federal judge in Oakland on Wednesday ordered the Trump administration to stop its investigations into nine states over whether noncitizens are registered to vote, delaying the order until Friday to allow an appeal.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The charges involve more than $4.5 million in alleged fraud against a program serving over 900,000 low-income seniors and disabled Californians.
The case lands in the middle of an election-year fight over who is doing more to stop fraud in public benefit programs.
It also highlights the broader clash between California and the Trump administration over Medicaid funding and voter roll integrity.

Background

California's In-Home Supportive Services program, created in 1973, provides home-based care to low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities. State officials say the model saves taxpayer money compared with nursing home placement. The program has become a flashpoint in a national debate over waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid, with federal officials accusing California of weak oversight and state leaders pointing to enforcement actions as proof that fraud is being pursued.

Key Perspectives

Attorney General Rob Bonta: The enforcement action demonstrates California is actively protecting taxpayer dollars and the programs vulnerable residents depend on. He rejects federal claims of rampant fraud as politically motivated myths.

Republican critics: Michael Gates and Roxanne Hoge argue Bonta's announcement is an election-season stunt after years of neglect, citing a state auditor report that allegedly flagged known fraud.

Federal government: The Trump administration has questioned California's handling of public benefit programs and voter rolls, filing lawsuits and opening investigations that California officials call baseless.

What to Watch

The Nov. 3 election for California attorney general, where fraud enforcement is now a campaign issue.
The judge's order on investigations into voter rolls in nine states, with an appeal expected before Friday.
Whether the state auditor report Gates cited prompts further legislative or oversight action on IHSS fraud.

Sources

103 home services providers charged with Medi-Cal fraud · The Center Square California

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedThe headline says California charged 103 providers with Medi-Cal fraud, without saying the fraud is alleged.The Center Square California: “California investigators have filed felony charges against 103 In-Home Supportive Services providers across 17 counties for allegedly defrauding Medi-Cal out of more than $4.5 million.”
Partly supportedThe summary describes the alleged $4.5 million fraud as an established scheme.The Center Square California: “for allegedly defrauding Medi-Cal out of more than $4.5 million.”
SupportedFelony charges were filed against 103 providers across 17 counties over alleged Medi-Cal fraud of more than $4.5 million.The Center Square California: “California investigators have filed felony charges against 103 In-Home Supportive Services providers across 17 counties for allegedly defrauding Medi-Cal out of more than $4.5 million.”
SupportedBonta said at a Thursday press conference in Los Angeles, “This isn't a political game for us.”The Center Square California: ““This isn't a political game for us,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said during a press conference Thursday in Los Angeles.”
SupportedGates said Bonta had been neglectful of the fraud for five years.The Center Square California: ““Rob Bonta is a day late and a dollar short. He has been neglectful of this very fraud for five years,” Gates told The Center Square in an email.”
SupportedGates said a State Auditor report indicated state leadership knew about waste, fraud and abuse and apparently did nothing.The Center Square California: ““A State Auditor Report came out a few months ago indicating that State Leadership knew about this waste, fraud and abuse and apparently did nothing about it.””
SupportedHoge said, “Bless his heart, Rob Bonta never saw a parade he didn't want to get in front of.”The Center Square California: ““Bless his heart, Rob Bonta never saw a parade he didn't want to get in front of,” Hoge told The Center Square.”
Partly supportedBonta’s office recovered more than $1.5 billion in civil and criminal Medi-Cal fraud cases over the past decade.The Center Square California: “Over the past decade, his office reported recovering over $1.5 billion in civil and criminal Medi-Cal fraud cases.”
SupportedBonta said Washington politicians accused California of failing to fight fraud while threatening Medicaid funding, and that the White House spread myths about rampant fraud.The Center Square California: ““In Washington, politicians accuse us of failing to fight fraud while at the same time threatening to withhold the Medicaid funding Californians count on,” Bonta said. “While the White House spreads myths about rampant fraud, we'll keep dispelling them, not with words, but with work.””
SupportedFederal officials alleged that as many as 20,000 registered voters on California’s rolls may be ineligible.The Center Square California: “Federal officials alleged that as many as 20,000 registered voters on the state's rolls may be ineligible”
SupportedBonta said, “They showed us zero evidence,” and said his office filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.The Center Square California: ““They showed us zero evidence,” Bonta said, adding that his office filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit outright.”
SupportedA federal judge in Oakland ordered the Trump administration to stop investigations into nine states over whether noncitizens were registered to vote, delaying the order until Friday to allow an appeal.The Center Square California: “In Oakland, U.S. District Court Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin on Wednesday ordered the Trump administration to stop its investigations into nine states in whether noncitizens are registered to vote. But she delayed implementing her order until Friday to allow the administration to appeal.”