Dozens of Autism Treatment Centers Under Investigation Amid Crackdown on Fraud: Report

Treatment centers who are supposed to help people with autism in Minnesota are now under investigation.

KSTP reported an alleged issue with payouts to clinics and organizations that deal with early intervention for kids with autism. 

The state’s Department of Human Services (DHS) has paid out nearly $700 million since the program began 10 years ago.

There is growing concern regarding providers actually doing their jobs.  

“It strikes me to my core that people are stealing from the program,” Shireen Gandhi, the temporary commissioner of DHS, said.

Smart Therapy in Minneapolis and Star Autism Center in St. Cloud were raided by federal agents under allegations that they billed for services that were never provided. That amounted to more than $20 million being billed fraudulently, per a federal search warrant.

Since those raids, other centers have been given unannounced compliance visits from the DHS. 

“We are visiting every single one,” Gandhi said. They’ve visited 270 locations since last November.

There are now 85 open investigations into clinics that provide autism services. This amounts to about 20% in the state.

DHS emphasized an “open investigation” is not an indication of fraud. It does allow the state to see if there is evidence of fraud, waste, or abuse, per the outlet.

“There was such a high need for autism services in Minnesota when the state began offering it that it’s an unlicensed service, so there aren’t the same structures in place that there are for other programs,” Gandhi said. “We have to catch up and provide the oversight needed.”