A Medicaid fraud investigation emerged Thursday as the FBI served search warrants on autism service providers in Minneapolis and St. Cloud.

Federal investigators have already said they found “substantial evidence” that providers have been submitting fraudulent claims for services not provided, according to state Rep. Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring. Demuth is the Republican leader in the House of Reprsentatives.

The investigation is part of a larger Medicaid-related investigation in Minnesota, according to a news release issued by Demuth’s office and an application for a search warrant unsealed by a federal judge on Thursday.

Minnesota Public Radio News said Smart Therapy of Minneapolis received nearly $14 million in Medicaid reimbursements between 2020 and this year. Star Autism Center in St. Cloud received $6 million since opening in 2020.

The number of autism providers in Minnesota has increased by 700% in the past five years, accompanied by a 3,000% increase in funding to those services, including $400 million in 2023 and 2024, Demuth said, citing Thursday’s search warrant application.

The warrant application that led to Thursday morning’s searches also stated that at least 12 people previously charged in the high-profile Feeding Our Future fraud investigation owned, received money from or were associated with autism centers that got state funding for providing services reimbursed by Medicaid, according to Demuth.

Feeding Our Future was a Twin Cities nonprofit implicated in a $250 million scheme to defraud federal child nutrition programs during the pandemic.

Demuth said that she would urge Democratic Gov. Tim Walz to order state agencies to immediately pause payments to anyone or any entity that is suspected or convicted of fraud in other state programs.

In a Thursday interview with MPR News following news of the FBI raids, Walz said he would propose additional measures to crack down on misappropriation of state funding. Lawmakers will begin their 2025 session next month.

— Forum News Service

County manager names new chief of staff

Ramsey County manager Ling Becker has named Maria Sarabia as chief of staff, with her role beginning the first week of January.

As chief adviser to the county manager, Sarabia also will work closely with the deputy county managers, County Board of Commissioners, other senior leaders and county partners and community members.

“Maria brings extensive leadership experience and a proven track record of fostering collaboration, which will be instrumental in advancing our organization’s strategic priorities,” Becker said. “As a member of the county manager’s executive team, Maria will lead key initiatives with organization-wide impact, working across all areas. Additionally, she will oversee the government relations team, advocating for policies and resources that strengthen our ability to serve our community.”

Sarabia currently serves as assistant commissioner of the Health Improvement Bureau for the state Department of Health. She previously worked in various roles in Ramsey County from 2018 to 2023 and has worked in policy, administration and community services roles for more than 25 years.

She has held leadership roles with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Minnesota Department of Human Services, and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sarabia has a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern Illinois University and a master’s degree from the University of Chicago.

— Amirah Razman

Comcast internet upgraded in 3 cities

Comcast said Wednesday it had finished hooking up six Minnesota cities with high-speed internet and related services such as mobile, voice, video and home security, which will be available to 2,400 homes and businesses.

Three of the cities — Stillwater, Hugo and Grant — are in Washington County near St. Paul.

The others are Cologne, Rogers and Corcoran.

Over the past three years, Comcast has invested more than $525 million in technology and infrastructure in Minnesota, including upgrades to its network, the company said. This includes expansions in Chanhassen and Nowthen that are slated to be built out in 2025.

“More than 63 million homes and businesses across the country have access to a network that is trusted by essential community organizations like hospitals, schools, transportation systems and first responders, and federal agencies like the Department of Defense and FEMA. It delivers multi-gigabit Internet speeds, 99.9 percent reliability and security built in from the ground up to keep customers safe from cyber threats,” Comcast said in a press release.

— Julio Ojeda-Zapata

Oil pipeline reroute opponents file lawsuit

A northern Wisconsin tribe along with a coalition of groups moved Thursday to block plans to reroute an aging pipeline around the tribe’s reservation, arguing state regulators have underestimated the environmental damage that construction would cause.

The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa filed a lawsuit in Ashland County asking a judge to stay the state Department of Natural Resources’ environmental impact statement for the project and reverse state construction permits. The tribe also joined with a number of other groups, including Clean Wisconsin, the Sierra Club and the League of Women Voters, in petitions Thursday demanding a hearing on the approvals.

DNR spokesperson Molly Meister declined to comment.

— Associated Press