RFK Jr. Blows the Whistle on $400M Autism Fraud Scheme in Minnesota

Acting HHS Secretary details massive fraud uncovered in government healthcare programs

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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In a recent interview, Acting HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed details of a shocking $400 million autism fraud scheme that was uncovered in Minnesota. Kennedy said organized crime companies would tell families to claim all their children had autism in order to enroll them in services and collect the government payments, even though the services were never provided. He also discussed broader Medicare and Medicaid fraud that he estimates costs the government $100 billion per year.

Why it matters

The revelations from RFK Jr. shed light on widespread fraud and abuse within government healthcare programs, which divert critical funding away from legitimate services and patients. The scale of the fraud uncovered in Minnesota raises serious questions about oversight and accountability within these programs.

The details

According to Kennedy, the autism fraud scheme in Minnesota involved organized crime groups telling families to claim all their children had autism, even if they did not, in order to enroll them in services and collect the government payments. Over a three-year period, the annual cost of the autism program in Minneapolis ballooned from $3 million to $400 million, which Kennedy said was "almost all fraudulent." He also discussed broader Medicare and Medicaid fraud, estimating the government loses $100 billion per year due to "shocking, blatant fraud." This includes schemes where companies set up P.O. boxes to bill for medical equipment that was never provided, as well as an explosion of hospice care providers in Los Angeles that Kennedy says is "all fraudulent."

  • In a recent interview, RFK Jr. revealed details of the fraud schemes.
  • The autism fraud scheme in Minnesota grew from $3 million to $400 million annually over a three-year period.

The players

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) who uncovered the widespread fraud in government healthcare programs.

The Biden administration

Kennedy argues the fraud accelerated under the Biden administration, which ended the program integrity office and told staff to focus on enrollments rather than fraud prevention.

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What they’re saying

“We lose just on Medicaid and Medicare, $100 billion a year. And it's all just this, really, ya know, shocking, blatant fraud.”

— Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Acting HHS Secretary (The Joe Rogan Experience)

“They don't have any knee braces or wheelchairs.”

— Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Acting HHS Secretary (The Joe Rogan Experience)

“Los Angeles has more hospice care providers than the entire rest of the country COMBINED.”

— Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Acting HHS Secretary (The Joe Rogan Experience)

What’s next

Kennedy said the judge in the Minnesota autism fraud case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the alleged perpetrators out on bail.

The takeaway

The massive fraud schemes uncovered by RFK Jr. within government healthcare programs highlight the critical need for stronger oversight, accountability, and anti-fraud measures to protect taxpayer funds and ensure they are directed to legitimate patient care rather than lining the pockets of organized crime groups.