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Newsom Files Civil Rights Complaint Against CMS Administrator Oz Over Fraud Allegations
Published: 2026/01/30 09:22:05
Background: Allegations of Medicare Fraud and Oz’s Video
California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a civil rights complaint against chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the current Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), following a video posted by former CMS Administrator Dr.Mehmet Oz alleging widespread Medicare fraud in Los Angeles linked to Armenian crime groups. The video, originally posted on X (formerly Twitter) in January 2024, shows Oz touring a section of Van Nuys and claiming approximately $3.5 billion in Medicare fraud has occured through hospice and home care businesses, attributing some of it to the “Russian Armenian mafia.”
Newsom’s Response and the Civil Rights Complaint
Governor Newsom, in a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services, demanded an inquiry into what he called “baseless and racist allegations” against Armenian Americans in California.The complaint argues that such statements, made by someone in a position of authority overseeing federal healthcare programs, could discourage individuals from participating in those programs due to fear of targeting. Newsom’s office stated the allegations “seriously risks chilling participation in those programs by individuals targeted by the statements.” Official statement from the Governor of California
Impact on Local Business
Movses Bislamyan, owner of an Armenian bakery prominently featured in Oz’s video, reported a important decline in business – approximately 30% – promptly after the video went viral.Bislamyan expressed disappointment, stating his business had no involvement in any fraudulent activities.ABC7 News Report
Broader Context: Healthcare Fraud Investigations in California
The controversy surrounding Oz’s video coincides wiht ongoing efforts to combat healthcare fraud in California. A 2020 Los Angeles Times investigation revealed a surge in Medicare fraud within the state’s hospice industry. Between 2010 and 2020, the number of hospices in los
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