Friends and neighbors,
Minnesota's Office of the Legislative Auditor released a major report on kickbacks in the state's EIDBI program, which is the Medicaid-funded program that provides services to children with autism.
A kickback, in this context, is when a provider pays parents or families to bring their children to that clinic rather than a competitor. It’s illegal under federal law. DHS received complaints about it happening in the EIDBI program, but the audit found the Department of Human Services failed to investigate those kickbacks despite having the legal authority to do so.
EIDBI spending has exploded in recent years, from $38 million in 2020 to $325 million in 2024.
You can read the full OLA report here.
Thank you!
As always, thank you for staying engaged and informed. If you have questions, concerns, or just want to share your thoughts, please don't hesitate to reach out. My door is always open.
Sincerely,