Posted on 03/09/2026 8:38:08 AM PDT by John Semmens
It turns out that in addition to fraudulent payments of federal aid in Minnesota meant for feeding children and providing daycare to children of working parents it has been revealed that fraudulent payments for autism therapy must now be added to the list. In testimony given in Congress it was pointed out to Gov. Tim Walz, that in 2017 about $1 million in federal funds was paid to help fight autism. In 2024, $343 million was paid. Walz admitted being totally ignorant and unembarrassed by this revelation, saying "I'm not a financial genius. I am only a governor. I can't be expected to pay attention to what's happening with all the federal aid being sent to our state. Besides, practically every state is infested with fraud. It's unfair to try to single out Minnesota for abuses that are the norm nationwide."
Meanwhile in Colorado, auditors discovered that in a sample of 100 of the state's Medicaid claims for autism treatments 100% were found to be either improper or flawed. In 93 of the 100 cases, the providers either did not verify that the therapy took place, didn't provide the required signatures, or billed for more expenses than were justified. In 18 of the 100 the therapy was performed by staff without proper qualifications. In 88 cases, the state was billed for recreational activities not part of recognized therapy. Some staff members of providers had criminal convictions for weapons offenses, assault, or DUI. Audits in four states revealed that hundreds of millions of dollars in improper payments have been made.
The US Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services recommended that Colorado refund $42.6 million to the federal government. Colorado agreed to improve in the future, but disagreed with the recommendation to refund the money, saying that "our Medicaid program does not require certification of therapists or verification of expenses before making payments."
That was before they added the ‘spectrum’... Which encompasses every behavior you can think of... So now everybody is autistic and deserves some of those handouts the government gives you for being different.
Rush used to say "When you subsidize something, you get more of it." This is a perfect example of that concept.
Reality check
Autism is a lifelong condition that affects how individuals perceive the world, communicate, and interact socially, typically appearing in early childhood.
It is characterized by a “spectrum” of diverse strengths and challenges, including intense interests, repetitive behaviors, and sensory sensitivities.......not a disease but a “different way” of thinking and experiencing the world.
Key Aspects of Autism:
Social & Communication Differences: Challenges with back-and-forth conversation, understanding nonverbal cues (eye contact, body language), and forming relationships.
Behavioral Patterns: Intense focus on specific topics, strict adherence to routines, and repetitive movements (often called “stimming”).
Sensory Processing: Heightened or reduced sensitivity to lights, sounds, smells, or touch.
The “Spectrum” Nature: Abilities vary widely; some autistic individuals may live independently, while others require significant daily support.
Diagnosis & Support: Symptoms are usually noticed by age 2 or 3, though sometimes later. While there is no cure, therapies can help improve daily functioning.
Autism reflects natural variations in the human brain. (National Autistic Society)
CBS News.com
By Rachel Gold, Laura Geller,
Adam Yamaguchi and Graham Kates
Published March 10, 2026
We visited “ground zero” for hospice fraud: Los Angeles, California
A CBS News analysis of records for every hospice operating in Los Angeles County finds indications of fraud are growing.
At age 69, Lynn Ianni is a pickleball whiz, zipping from dinks to drives energetically. When she suffered an injury on the court two years ago, she sought physical therapy, and was surprised to learn her Medicare insurance wouldn’t cover it. She was, according to Medicare records, dying and in hospice. “They said, ‘you’re in hospice.’ And I said, ‘what? What are you talking about?” Ianni said. “‘Are you kidding me? Do I look like I’m in hospice?’”
Ianni’s Medicare number had been stolen, and used by a company to fraudulently enroll her in hospice – specialized, compassionate care for terminal patients nearing the end of their lives. It was another example of fraud in the hospice industry, long a nationwide problem. But her case arose well after officials had promised to stamp it out in California, where the problem has been especially acute.
Ianni was initially approved for physical therapy treatments through Medicare. But later, her coverage was denied because she was listed as receiving hospice care, and the services were deemed not covered — even though she was not, and has never been, in hospice. CBS News
Medicare is federally administered, and hospices must be certified for reimbursements. But the state issues the licenses for hospices to operate. Three years ago, California’s state auditor sounded the alarm that Los Angeles County had seen a 1,500% increase in hospice companies since 2010 – more than six times the national average relative to its elderly population.
Auditors estimated LA County hospices overbilled Medicare by $105 million in a single year. The report called out notable red flags – key warning signs of fraud: Multiple hospices in one building——Geographic clustering-—Low patient counts
—High rates of terminally ill patients later discharged alive-—Excessive billing——Staff shared across multiple companies
The state says it proceeded to investigate and revoke the licenses of 280 hospices.
But since then, the problem has continued to fester. CBS News examined the business and financial records of every hospice currently operating in LA County, applying the same indicators identified by the state. Indications of fraud have not stopped. In fact, they’ve grown. The CBS News analysis reveals that over 700 of the roughly 1,800 hospices in LA County, trigger multiple red flags for fraud as defined by the state.
California is confronting this problem as Gavin Newsom, its Democratic governor, eyes a potential presidential run. Fraud in public services has become a thorny political issue. Republicans and an army of social media influencers have seized on the issue as politically potent – accusing Democratic state executives of failing to prevent costly schemes, most notably in Minnesota, where the Feeding our Future pandemic relief scam cost taxpayers hundreds of millions. Minnesota’s Democratic governor, Tim Walz, announced in January that he would no longer seek reelection amid fallout from that scandal.
CBS News reached out to Governor Newsom’s office. A spokesperson sent us a January 2026 statement, which reads in part, “Under Governor Newsom’s administration, California has cracked down on hospice fraud, launched partnerships across state agencies, and the California Department of Justice has arrested criminals to hold them accountable.”
Hospice fraud is a nationwide problem. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General reported in 2023 that suspected hospice fraud amounts totaled an estimated $198.1 million.
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