The FBI conducted searches at two autism treatment centers in Minnesota

The FBI conducted searches at two autism treatment centers in Minnesota, one of which is in downtown Minneapolis, as part of an investigation into alleged Medicaid fraud. The centers involved are Smart Therapy Center in Minneapolis and Star Autism Center in St. Cloud. The investigation uncovered "substantial evidence" that these centers were submitting fraudulent claims for services under the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) program, which serves individuals under 21 with autism spectrum disorder.

The search warrants were executed after findings indicated that these centers received significant reimbursements from Medicaid, with Smart Therapy Center receiving nearly $14 million and Star Autism Center receiving over $6 million between 2020 and November 2024. There are allegations that these centers billed for services that were either not provided or not covered by the EIDBI program.

Furthermore, this investigation is linked to the broader Feeding Our Future fraud case, where some individuals charged in that scandal are also connected to these autism centers. No charges have been filed yet in this specific investigation, but the search warrants suggest a thorough examination into the practices of these centers. The state Department of Human Services is also involved, looking into these and other autism centers for potential fraud.