Investigation Demand
California Governor Gavin Newsom's office has formally requested a civil rights investigation into Dr. Mehmet Oz. The demand was filed after Dr. Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, posted a video claiming widespread hospice and home care fraud in Los Angeles.
Allegations of Discrimination
In his video, filmed in front of an Armenian bakery in Los Angeles, Dr. Oz alleged that approximately $3.5 billion in fraud was occurring. He further claimed that "quite a bit of it" was run by "the Russian Armenian mafia."
Newsom's office stated that Oz "spewed baseless and racially charged allegations" that could deter participation in hospice and home care programs among the targeted community. The office also claimed the allegations had already negatively impacted the Armenian bakery shown in the video.
Movses Bislamyan, whose family owns the bakery, responded to KABC-TV, stating:
"Mafia? There is no Armenian mafia going on here. We’re just hardworking business owners. I don’t understand why he’s mentioning just Armenians."
Oz's Response and Broader Context
Dr. Oz, in a social media post, accused Governor Newsom of attempting to divert attention from Medicare fraud, which he claimed was most severe in California. Oz's video is part of a broader Trump administration initiative to highlight fraud nationwide.
California's Anti-Fraud Efforts
Governor Newsom acknowledged existing hospice care fraud in California but highlighted the state's ongoing efforts to combat it. He noted that a 2021 law was signed to halt new hospice licenses due to fraud concerns, and over 280 hospice licenses have been revoked recently, with another 300 under review.
Oz's video featured him in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, pointing out 42 hospices in a four-block area and referencing Armenian script on business signs.
Community Concerns
Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America, criticized Oz's remarks for invoking "easy stereotypes" about the Armenian community, which has significant roots in California. Hamparian also raised concerns about Oz's connections to Turkey, a nation that does not recognize the Armenian genocide.