Kennedy in National Review: Autism centers are defrauding Medicaid to the tune of millions

WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) penned this op-ed in National Review explaining how Medicaid fraud at autism-related care facilities spiraled out of control and how federal and state governments are holding the fraudsters accountable.

Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:

"Autism is a breathtakingly complex disorder. Some children with autism grow up to become CEOs, actors, and professional athletes. Others never learn to speak or develop the skills they need to care for themselves.

"The vast differences in how autism presents itself in children make it very difficult for medical professionals to treat - and easy for fraudsters to scam."

. . .

"In Minnesota, Medicaid spending on autism-related behavioral therapies increased from $670,000 to $342.8 million between 2019 and 2024 - a 50,988 percent increase. Meanwhile, families in Minnesota struggled to find quality care for their children. One Twin Cities facility had a waitlist of more than 2,000 families seeking care. You didn't need to be Sherlock Holmes to know that something was off, especially when some of these autism providers began driving Aston Martin sports cars and wearing Rolex watches."

. . .

"But when some third-rate fraudster or private equity firm chooses to bilk Medicaid for their own gain, it not only harms the children in need, but it also destroys taxpayers' confidence that their money is going to worthwhile causes. The families of Americans with autism deserve better, as do American taxpayers.

"Fortunately, change is on the way. The One Big Beautiful Bill included several provisions to help address the rampant Medicaid fraud occurring in America. Additionally, Vice President JD Vance, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator Mehmet Oz, and the prosecutors at the Justice Department have been working hard to stop fraudsters in their tracks.

"Some states are stepping up to combat fraud, too. North Carolina, for example, just passed major legislation to begin increased supervision of autism service providers. Other states should follow suit.

"Americans don't want to abandon families who depend on autism care facilities, but this fraud is making most fair-minded taxpayers nauseous. We've got to root it out and ensure that every dollar we spend on autism is paying for effective therapies, not some crook's newest Rolex."

Read Kennedy's op-ed here.