Minnesota Autism, Disabled Services Providers Among 15 Charged with Medicaid Fraud The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges against 15 individuals in Minnesota on Thursday, accusing them of defrauding Medicaid and other state-run social services programs of over $90 million. The charges, revealed during a press conference in Minneapolis, mark a significant escalation in federal efforts to combat healthcare fraud in the state. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald emphasized the severity of the case, calling the fraud “shocking” and stating that the investigation is far from over. The defendants are alleged to have exploited programs designed to support vulnerable populations, including Medicaid, housing assistance, meal programs, and services for individuals with disabilities and autistic children. McDonald detailed specific allegations, including the defrauding of a publicly funded program meant to provide medical services to children with autism. Two individuals are accused of siphoning $46.6 million from the program by paying kickbacks to parents who brought their children to autism centers, diagnosing children with autism regardless of medical necessity, and billing for services that were never provided. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz joined McDonald at the press conference, condemning the alleged schemes. Kennedy described the fraud as “organized theft” that exploited the most vulnerable children, deceiving families and stealing taxpayer funds intended to support legitimate care. He vowed that such crimes would not be tolerated, stating, “We will not allow criminals to treat children as billing opportunities while American taxpayers foot the bill.#minnesota #robert_f_kennedy_jr #mehmet_oz #us_justice_department #colin_mcdonald
