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Medicaid billing abuse deprives autistic kids of therapy and taxpayers of trust

by Alex Ciccone, opinion contributor - 10/22/26 10:05 AM ET

by Alex Ciccone, opinion contributor - 10/22/26 10:05 AM ET

Ronan Murphy works on a sorting problem during an applied behavior analysis after school in his home in Ayer, Mass., on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Shelby Lum)

News stories involving fraudulent government payments and the widespread misuse of tax dollars have become all too common. The latest scandal involves Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, two critical safety-net programs meant to serve society’s most vulnerable.

Government spending on applied behavior analysis therapy for children with autism has exploded in recent years.…