Source: Fox News
Summary
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the indictment of two Minnesota defendants, Shamso Ahmed Hassan and Hanaan Mursal Yusuf, for allegedly defrauding Minnesota Medicaid’s Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) Program of $46.6 million. The indictment is part of a wider enforcement action that targeted 15 alleged fraudsters for schemes that targeted over $90 million in taxpayer funds. Hassan and Yusuf are accused of paying kickbacks to families to send their children to their autism centers and billing Medicaid for services not rendered. The DOJ is seeking restitution for the $21.6 million paid out.
Our Reading
Once again, the discussion returns to a familiar question.
The Health and Human Services Secretary holds a news conference to announce the indictment of two defendants in a large-scale autism fraud scheme. The defendants are accused of exploiting vulnerable children and families, and stealing taxpayer dollars meant to help children with autism access legitimate care and support. The indictment is part of a wider enforcement action that targeted 15 alleged fraudsters. The defendants allegedly paid kickbacks to families and billed Medicaid for services not rendered. The DOJ is seeking restitution for the money paid out.
The Health and Human Services Secretary says that “every fraudulent autism diagnosis steals time, care, and resources from the children for whom this program was designed and who desperately need this care.” The Secretary’s statement suggests that the fraud has a direct impact on the lives of children with autism and their families.
Author: Evan Null
