Sacramento, Calif. (April 21, 2026) – Independent investigator Nick Shirley’s viral video exposés have triggered a fierce political firestorm in California after they helped uncover massive fraud in the state’s hospice and Medi-Cal systems — prompting critics to label a new legislative proposal the “Stop Nick Shirley Act.”
Shirley’s investigations revealed widespread abuse, including the suspension of 447 hospice facilities in Los Angeles County alone over more than $600 million in improper payments. In a separate case, 21 individuals were criminally charged in connection with a $267 million hospice scam.
The revelations drew national attention when U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. highlighted the scale of the crackdown, noting that federal authorities have shuttered approximately 500 fraudulent hospices across the country — with zero complaints filed by affected families.
Now, the controversy has shifted to the state Capitol, where Assembly Bill 2624, authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland), is facing sharp criticism. Opponents argue the bill would shield nonprofit organizations and government contractors from public scrutiny by restricting certain investigative tactics and information requests. They have derisively nicknamed it the “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” claiming it is a direct response to Shirley’s work that exposed systemic failures.
Supporters of the legislation, including Bonta, insist the measure is not aimed at journalists or whistleblowers. “This bill is about protecting frontline hospice workers and caregivers from harassment and doxxing — not about shielding wrongdoing or limiting legitimate journalism,” Bonta said in a statement.
The bill’s introduction comes amid growing public outrage over taxpayer-funded fraud in end-of-life care programs. Shirley’s videos, which have garnered millions of views, documented alleged kickbacks, falsified patient records, and instances where patients were enrolled in hospice care despite not qualifying, all while drawing Medi-Cal reimbursements.
California officials have not commented on whether the bill was drafted in direct response to Shirley’s investigations, but the timing has fueled accusations that lawmakers are more interested in protecting the status quo than in rooting out fraud.
As the bill moves through the Assembly, advocates for transparency say they will continue pushing back, citing Kennedy’s remarks as evidence that aggressive oversight — not restrictions on scrutiny — is what the public demands.
The debate over Assembly Bill 2624 is expected to intensify in the coming weeks, with hearings likely to feature testimony from hospice industry representatives, patient advocates, and independent watchdogs like Shirley.
