Private Equity and Fraud Crackdowns Reshape the $10 Billion Autism Therapy Industry
A massive surge in Medicaid spending for autism therapy, driven by private equity acquisitions and lax oversight, has triggered a federal fraud crackdown that is now restricting access for vulnerable children. While private equity firms have consolidated the industry to maximize profits, often at the expense of care quality, new state regulations and federal audits are cutting costs and services. Critics argue these blunt measures harm legitimate providers and children, while advocates call for quality-based metrics to replace flat-rate reimbursement.