Federal officials have expanded a sweeping Medicaid fraud crackdown in Minnesota, announcing charges against 15 defendants accused of stealing more than $90 million across multiple state‑run programs. Prosecutors say the cases include the largest autism‑related Medicaid fraud scheme ever brought by the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to federal filings and public statements, the schemes targeted seven different Medicaid programs, including services for children with autism, disability support programs, and housing stabilization services. Officials said the defendants routinely billed the state for services that were never provided, submitted falsified claims, and in some cases paid kickbacks to families to obtain autism diagnoses for children regardless of medical necessity.
Two defendants were charged in a $46.6 million scheme involving Minnesota’s Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention program, which provides autism services for children and young adults. Prosecutors allege the pair concealed ownership interests in autism centers, paid parents to bring children in for diagnoses, and billed Medicaid for therapy sessions that did not occur. Officials described the case as the largest autism fraud bust in American history.
Federal authorities also highlighted broader patterns across the charged schemes. In disability support programs, investigators say some providers billed for continuous care that was never delivered, including one case in which a participant received no services and later died. In the Housing Stabilization Services program, officials reported that funds had been fully depleted after extensive fraudulent billing.
The Justice Department said the takedown reflects a significant expansion of its national Medicaid fraud enforcement efforts. Officials noted that Minnesota has seen rapid growth in certain Medicaid programs, including autism services, which increased from $600,000 to $400 million in six years. Additional prosecutors have been deployed to the state as investigations continue.
Federal leaders emphasized that more enforcement actions are expected as investigators continue to examine interconnected networks of providers and billing operations across Minnesota.
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