Fraudsters Running Scared

March 3, 2026

Fraudsters Running Scared

I am pleased to be able to inform you that the work we have been doing in exposing the mass theft of our taxpayer dollars has fraudsters running scared.

Services such as autism centers, as well as non-emergency medical transport rides, are critical infrastructure for ensuring that Minnesota's most vulnerable communities have their needs met. However, the numbers coming out of our investigative efforts in the Fraud Committee over the last week only reinforce what we have already known: a vast number of these "providers," taking in hundreds of millions of our taxpayer dollars, never helped a single person.

During a recent Fraud Committee hearing regarding criminality within Minnesota's autism center infrastructure, it was revealed that out of 500 autism centers that were previously operating in Minnesota, only 6 centers have re-applied for a provisional license when required to do so as part of a fraud prevention sweep. Likewise, during a hearing involving non-emergency medical transport rides, it was revealed that "ride" quantities have plummeted by 62% since they were designated a high-risk sector for fraud last year. Both of these staggering statistics suggest that rampant fraud has been taking place within these programs for years.

Click HERE to watch my Fraud Committee questioning regarding transport rides.

The good news is that fraudsters are running scared. However, the extent of the fraud that has been exposed makes it difficult to believe that members of the executive branch were oblivious to what has been taking place in plain sight.

OIG Bill Crucial For Fighting Fraud

Given that there is little to no public trust left in the executive branch to monitor its own agencies, it is critical that the House passes the bipartisan Independent Office of the Inspector General (OIG) bill. This bill will give broad investigative and prosecutorial authority to an OIG that is accountable to the legislature, meaning that its investigations and prosecutorial decisions cannot be swayed by the political whims of whoever happens to sit in the Governor's Office in any given year. Minnesotans deserve to know that their tax dollars are being safeguarded by an apolitical institution, and passing the OIG bill will go a long way in reestablishing the social contract between citizens and government in our state.

Want To Learn More?

I had the opportunity to join Kenny Olson and Jay Kolls, from the Crabby Coffee Shop podcast, to delve deeper into the issue of autism center fraud in Minnesota. As with any fraud operation, there are many layers to unravel. If you are interested in learning more, I encourage you to watch—this long-form conversational format is the best way to get all of the information across at one time.

Click HERE to watch my interview delving into autism center fraud.

At the end of the week, I joined Brian Bakst for MPR's Politics Friday program to discuss progress on the bipartisan Office of the Inspector General (OIG) bill that has been recently held up in the House. I was joined by a counterpart in the House, Rep. Matt Norris (D-Blaine), whom Governor Walz has instructed to introduce the amendments to stall passage of the bill. The conversation was measured, but I remain steadfast that Minnesotans need to have an OIG to prosecute fraud that holds no conflicts of interest with senior officials within the executive branch.

Click HERE to listen to my MPR interview regarding the OIG bill.

Be assured that tackling Minnesota's fraud epidemic is my top priority at the State Legislature, and I will continue to keep you informed throughout the Legislative Session as progress continues in this work.

Please Contact Me

Please continue to reach out if I can be of any assistance to you. You can reach me by phone at 651-296-3018 or by email at rep.patti.anderson@house.mn.gov.

Patti

/RepPattiAnderson

2nd Floor Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar Street
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.3018