FBI Raids Minnesota Autism Centers in Fraud Probe

Federal agents have conducted searches at two Minnesota autism service providers, Smart Therapy Center in Minneapolis and Star Autism Center in St. Cloud, as part of a wide-ranging investigation into alleged Medicaid fraud. Authorities have found substantial evidence suggesting that these providers submitted fraudulent claims for services not rendered, with the number of such providers in Minnesota increasing by 700% and funding rising by 3,000% over the past five years. The investigation is linked to previous fraud cases, including the Feeding Our Future scandal, where at least a dozen defendants had ties to autism clinics. Smart Therapy Center received over $8 million from the state for EIDBI services between 2020 and 2023, while Star Autism Center received $3.2 million. The Minnesota Department of Human Services is already investigating multiple providers amidst rising concerns about fraud in state-funded programs. This situation has prompted calls for state agencies to pause payments to any entities suspected of fraud.