By Keerthi Ramesh
Federal authorities have charged two Minnesota women in connection with an alleged Medicaid fraud scheme involving autism treatment services that prosecutors say improperly collected more than $21 million from government healthcare programs.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and federal court filings, Shamso Ahmed Hassan, 55, and Hanaan Mursal Yusuf, 25, were arrested this week on charges tied to Minnesota’s Medicaid funded autism treatment program.
Prosecutors say that the pair submitted more than $46 million in fraudulent claims through autism service providers connected to Minnesota’s Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioural Intervention program, known as EIDBI. Authorities say Medicaid ultimately paid out approximately $21.1 million tied to those claims.
Federal officials allege the defendants billed Medicaid for services that were either not provided as claimed or improperly documented. Court records also accuse the women of conspiring to commit healthcare fraud and money laundering.
The case is part of a broader federal healthcare fraud crackdown in Minnesota announced by the Department of Justice earlier this month. Federal prosecutors said 15 defendants were charged in multiple investigations involving more than $90 million in alleged fraud tied to healthcare and public assistance programs.
Investigators from Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General participated in this case according to federal authorities. DHS said the arrests were a part of an ongoing operation to target fraud involving taxpayer-funded healthcare programs.
Federal officials are increasingly focused on Minnesota’s Medicaid programs following several high-profile fraud investigations over the past two years. State officials have responded to it by expanding provider oversight, increasing fraud referrals and suspending payments to hundreds of providers under investigation.
Court documents allege the fraudulent activity occurred between 2019 and 2024. The defendants now face charges including conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and money laundering. If convicted, they could face substantial prison sentences under federal law.
The allegations remain accusations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.