FBI Raids Minnesota Autism Centers for Fraud

The FBI has conducted raids on Smart Therapy Center in Minneapolis and Star Autism in St. Cloud as part of a Medicaid fraud investigation linked to the Feeding Our Future scheme. These autism centers are accused of filing fraudulent claims for services not provided, with Smart Therapy receiving nearly $14 million and Star Autism $6 million in Medicaid reimbursements since 2020. Employees at these centers reportedly lacked proper qualifications, and some children receiving services did not appear to be autistic. The investigation ties to the Feeding Our Future case, where funds were misappropriated from federal child nutrition programs. This has prompted calls for increased scrutiny from state officials, including Rep. Lisa Demuth and Gov. Tim Walz, who are urging immediate preventive measures against further fraud. The Department of Human Services is collaborating with federal authorities to ensure oversight of Medicaid programs.