Oz: Minnesota Fraudsters Bribed Moms to Fake Autism Diagnoses
CMS Administrator Oz details fraud scheme in Minnesota, involving fake autism diagnoses and federal investigations.
2 min read
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz revealed that fraudsters in Minnesota bribed mothers approximately $1,500 per child to falsely claim their children were autistic, leading to incorrect diagnoses and financial strain on the system. Oz made these remarks during an appearance alongside President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, highlighting the administration’s anti-fraud efforts.
Fraud Steals Lives and Trust
Oz described the abuse as a theft of more than just money, emphasizing the broader impact on individuals and national trust. ‘Fraud doesn’t just steal our money. Fraud steals people’s lives and it also steals our trust as a nation, and that is devastating to any country,’ he stated.
Impact of the Scheme
Oz explained that the scheme harmed two groups: children wrongly labeled autistic, who carry that record forward, and mothers of children who genuinely need services but are unable to afford care. After reviewing independent reporting, CMS examined providers in Minnesota’s 14 high-risk programs and found that roughly a third could not be validated.
Investigations and Deferrals
The agency is pursuing dozens of cases, including criminal investigations, and has deferred about half a billion dollars in payments to the state. Oz credited independent journalist Nick Shirley, whose video of Minneapolis daycare and autism centers that appeared vacant drew federal attention, for uncovering around $100 million in fraud in a single day.
Program Growth and Fraud Allegations
Minnesota’s autism program grew from about $3 million in 2018 to nearly $400 million in recent years, according to figures Oz has cited. Prosecutor Joe Thompson stated that the state’s 14 high-risk programs cost $18 billion since 2018, with more than half potentially fraudulent.
Federal Response and State Reaction
Trump appointed Vance to lead a Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, which held its first meeting at the White House earlier this year. Oz gave Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) a 60-day ultimatum to restore the program’s integrity or lose funding. Walz has criticized the federal effort as a ‘campaign of retribution,’ accusing the administration of using the federal government to punish blue states like Minnesota.
Source: Breitbart
