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Justice Dept. charges 15 over alleged $2 billion healthcare fraud in Southern California

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 3 outlets, all right-leaning.

4 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Man in dark suit and red tie speaking at a press microphone before blue curtains and flag
Image via The Epoch TimesHow images are chosenReport this image

Fox News, The Epoch Times, the New York Post and RedState report that federal authorities charged 15 people in Southern California in a healthcare fraud case. The outlets say the Justice Department put the alleged fraudulent claims at between $1.8 billion and $2 billion, submitted to government and private health programs. The alleged schemes involve unnecessary surgeries, sober home or substance abuse programs, and billing for hospice care. Among those charged is a cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Harold Tabaie, 78, of Anaheim, and a chiropractor, Hany Malek, 61, of Tarzana. Prosecutors said the case was detected through data analytics after predawn raids across the region.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. The Justice Department charged 15 people in connection with alleged healthcare fraud in Southern California.

    One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right3See the outletsHide the outlets
    Right
    New York Post
    Far Right
    The Epoch Times, RedState, Fox News

  2. The alleged fraud was reported at about $2 billion.

    One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Right
    New York Post
    Far Right
    The Epoch Times, RedState

  3. The Justice Department said the charges concern $1.8 billion in fraudulent claims submitted to government and private health insurance programs, and that six of the 15 people charged are medical professionals.

    One outletFox News· Far Right

  4. The alleged schemes include unnecessary surgeries, sober home or substance abuse programs, and billing for hospice care that prosecutors say was phony.

    One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Right
    New York Post
    Far Right
    RedState, Fox News

  5. Among those charged is a cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Harold Tabaie, 78, of Anaheim, and a chiropractor, Hany Malek, 61, of Tarzana.

    One outletFox News· Far Right

  6. Prosecutors said the case was detected through data analytics.

    One outletFox News· Far Right

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • The alleged fraud totals about $2 billion.

    The New York Post, The Epoch Times and RedState report about $2 billion, while Fox News, citing the Justice Department, reports $1.8 billion in fraudulent claims.

How each side tells it

Compare views

Every right-side outlet in the input reports that federal authorities charged 15 people over alleged healthcare fraud of about $2 billion in Southern California, with the emphasis on the size of the case and its impact on taxpayers and patients.

  • the left

    No coverage yet

    No left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

  • the center

    No coverage yet

    No center outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

  • the right

    3 outlets · 1 opinion

    Headlines lead with the dollar figure and the size of the case, with Fox News calling it a massive sweep, while the far-right RedState opinion piece adds luxury cars, boats and dangerous procedures.

    Federal authorities charge 15 in Sensational language“massive”The word adds drama to a charging announcement, where the size can be stated by the figures alone.More neutral: Southern California medical fraud caseDisagree with this highlight? $1.8B Southern California medical fraud sweep
    Fox NewsFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left

    Has not covered this story.

  • Center

    Has not covered this story.

  • Right12

    white-collar thieveshunting the homelessblitzkrieg of predawn raidshigh-class criminals

In the outlets’ own words

  • Dehumanizing label

    white-collar thievesMore neutral: defendants

    Reduces accused people to a criminal label before any charge is proven in court.

    …Angeles medical fraudsters accused of stealing $2 billion Thursday, cuffing white-collar thieves for unneeded surgeries, hunting the homeless for rehabs and billing the…

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    hunting the homelessMore neutral: allegedly recruiting homeless people

    Describes the alleged recruitment of patients with dramatic, predatory wording.

    …$2 billion Thursday, cuffing white-collar thieves for unneeded surgeries, hunting the homeless for rehabs and billing the government for phony hospice care.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    blitzkrieg of predawn raidsMore neutral: predawn raids

    Uses a military metaphor to add drama to routine arrest operations.

    Federal SWAT teams sought their suspects in a blitzkrieg of predawn raids, targeting high-class criminals such as Dr.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    high-class criminalsMore neutral: people accused

    Labels the accused as criminals before a court has decided the charges.

    …SWAT teams sought their suspects in a blitzkrieg of predawn raids, targeting high-class criminals such as Dr.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

Show 8 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Sensational language

    secretly operatingMore neutral: operating

    Suggests concealment that the supplied reporting does not establish.

    Feds bust $2B medical fraud rings secretly operating in California — as agents seen scaling rich doctor’s mega mansion

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    mega mansionMore neutral: home

    Adds a lavish-wealth judgement to the location of an arrest.

    …rings secretly operating in California — as agents seen scaling rich doctor’s mega mansion

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    immense scopeMore neutral: scope

    Asserts a sweeping size for fraud across the country that the supplied text does not establish.

    The immense scope of fraud being uncovered in the U.S.

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    bilked taxpayersMore neutral: billed the government about $2 billion

    Describes the alleged billing with a verb that already implies the outcome.

    …reported that Federal agents in Los Angeles busted a medical fraud ring that has bilked taxpayers of roughly $2 billion.

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    grabbing up homeless peopleMore neutral: recruiting homeless people

    Describes the alleged recruitment of patients with predatory wording.

    Arrests were made for such crimes as performing unneeded surgeries, grabbing up homeless people to put in rehab, and phony hospice care, all being billed to the…

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    Luxury Cars and BoatsMore neutral: Assets of Accused Doctors

    Asserts specific assets that the supplied text does not report.

    CA Medical Fraud Bust: Luxury Cars and Boats for Doctors, Dangerous Procedures for Patients

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    Dangerous Procedures for PatientsMore neutral: Unneeded Procedures Alleged

    Characterizes the alleged procedures as dangerous in the headline, a judgement the charges describe only as unneeded.

    CA Medical Fraud Bust: Luxury Cars and Boats for Doctors, Dangerous Procedures for Patients

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    massiveMore neutral: Southern California medical fraud case

    The word adds drama to a charging announcement, where the size can be stated by the figures alone.

    Federal authorities charge 15 in massive $1.8B Southern California medical fraud sweep

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

Words quoted from someone else (1)Hide the quoted words

Loaded words that outlets reported someone else saying. They show what was said, not how the outlet chose to say it.

  • Sensational language

    Quoted

    kingdom of fraudMore neutral: a state with many fraud cases

    A prosecutor's rhetorical label for a whole state, presented as a description of California rather than of the charges.

    attorney for the Central District of California, called the state the 'kingdom of fraud.'

    Quoted byThe Epoch Times (Far Right)

    These are Bill Essayli’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

0 outlets

No left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

From the center

0 outlets

No center outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

From the right

3 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • the scale of the alleged losses
  • a cardiothoracic surgeon among those charged
  • harm to patients from unneeded procedures
  • losses to taxpayers
See the 4 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • Fox NewsFar Right

    Federal authorities charge 15 in Sensational language“massive”The word adds drama to a charging announcement, where the size can be stated by the figures alone.More neutral: Southern California medical fraud caseDisagree with this highlight? $1.8B Southern California medical fraud sweep

    Federal raids across Southern California targeted 15 suspects, including a cardiothoracic surgeon, in nearly $2 billion in healthcare fraud schemes.

    Read at Fox News (opens in a new tab)
  • The Epoch TimesFar Right

    DOJ Charges 15 in Alleged $2 Billion California Healthcare Fraud

    Bill Essayli, U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, called the state the 'Sensational language“kingdom of fraud”A prosecutor's rhetorical label for a whole state, presented as a description of California rather than of the charges.More neutral: a state with many fraud casesThese are Bill Essayli’s words. The outlet is reporting them.Disagree with this highlight?.'

    Read at The Epoch Times (opens in a new tab)
  • New York PostRight

    Feds bust $2B medical fraud rings Sensational language“secretly operating”Suggests concealment that the supplied reporting does not establish.More neutral: operatingDisagree with this highlight? in California — as agents seen scaling rich doctor’s Loaded modifier“mega mansion”Adds a lavish-wealth judgement to the location of an arrest.More neutral: homeDisagree with this highlight?

    Feds busted Los Angeles medical fraudsters accused of stealing $2 billion Thursday, cuffing Dehumanizing label“white-collar thieves”Reduces accused people to a criminal label before any charge is proven in court.More neutral: defendantsDisagree with this highlight? for unneeded surgeries, Loaded verb“hunting the homeless”Describes the alleged recruitment of patients with dramatic, predatory wording.More neutral: allegedly recruiting homeless peopleDisagree with this highlight? for rehabs and billing the government for phony hospice care. …

    Read at New York Post (opens in a new tab)
  • RedStateFar RightOpinion

    CA Medical Fraud Bust: Sensational language“Luxury Cars and Boats”Asserts specific assets that the supplied text does not report.More neutral: Assets of Accused DoctorsDisagree with this highlight? for Doctors, Sensational language“Dangerous Procedures for Patients”Characterizes the alleged procedures as dangerous in the headline, a judgement the charges describe only as unneeded.More neutral: Unneeded Procedures AllegedDisagree with this highlight?

    The Sensational language“immense scope”Asserts a sweeping size for fraud across the country that the supplied text does not establish.More neutral: scopeDisagree with this highlight? of fraud being uncovered in the U.S. got much bigger on Thursday, as the California Post reported that Federal agents in Los Angeles busted a medical fraud ring that has Loaded verb“bilked taxpayers”Describes the alleged billing with a verb that already implies the outcome.More neutral: billed the government about $2 billionDisagree with this highlight? of roughly $2 billion. …

    Read at RedState (opens in a new tab)

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    No report yet

    From the outlets Mantle follows

  • Center

    No report yet

    From the outlets Mantle follows

  • Right

    First to report

    New York Post, Oct 22, 10:23 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. New York PostRightOct 22, 10:23 AM EDT
  2. The Epoch TimesFar RightOct 22, 1:54 PM EDT
  3. Fox NewsFar RightOct 22, 2:17 PM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.

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