FBI serves search warrants on autism service providers in Minneapolis and St. Cloud – InForum

SF. PAUL — The FBI served search warrants on autism providers in Minneapolis and St. Cloudy Thursday morning, December 12th.

Federal investigators have already said they have found “substantial evidence” that providers submitted fraudulent claims for services not provided, according to a news release from Co-Speaker-designate Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring.

The investigation is part of a larger investigation related to Medicaid in Minnesota, according to the news release. The number of autism service providers in Minnesota has grown 700 percent over the past five years, accompanied by a 3,000 percent increase in funding for those services, including $400 million in 2023 and 2024, the release said, citing the search warrant. from today.

In Minnesota’s November budget projections, education was the largest expense at $25 billion, with special education taking the largest share of that funding, according to Minnesota Management and Budget.

Thursday morning’s warrant also revealed that at least 12 people have been charged

Case Feeding our future

owned, received money from, or were associated with autism centers that received state funding to provide services, according to Demuth’s news release.

Demuth said that in light of this investigation and the Feeding Our Future fraud, he will appeal

Governor Tim Walz

order state agencies to immediately stop payments to anyone or any entity suspected of or convicted of fraud in other state programs.

Mary Murphy joined Forum Communications in October 2024 as Minnesota State Correspondent. She can be reached by email at [email protected].