🚨 The Fraud in the Minnesota Somali Community is Not Isolated! Investigators link the business to a Somalian man from Minneapolis with no apparent clinical qualifications (other than a political science degree). The operation allegedly exploits Minnesota's lenient licensing for Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) providers, which focuses more on paperwork than on-site verification or staff credentials. Providers can bill Medicaid around $50–$60 per hour for up to 20–40 hours weekly per child, potentially yielding $48,000+ annually per enrolled child—even if little or no actual therapy occurs. These claims tie into a broader federal investigation into autism service fraud in Minnesota, stemming from the Feeding Our Future scandal. Prosecutors have charged multiple providers (often Somali-owned or operated) with submitting fraudulent claims for services not provided, employing unqualified staff, and paying kickbacks to parents. The state's autism program exploded in cost and providers in recent years, prompting FBI raids, payment holds on dozens of centers, and charges totaling hundreds of millions in alleged fraud. Mainstream news outlets have not specifically named "Sunflower Autism" in reports as of December 27, 2025, but the pattern matches documented cases like Smart Therapy LLC. This appears to be part of systemic vulnerabilities in Minnesota's Medicaid oversight for autism services, not isolated fraud. It diverts funds. h/t @jammles9