Indiana bars autism therapy provider from billing state Medicaid program

Indiana has barred a major autism therapy provider from billing its Medicaid program following the revelation that the company received some of the highest per-patient payments in the nation, marking an aggressive state action amid a broader federal crackdown on Medicaid fraud and waste.

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration this week moved to terminate agreements with Piece by Piece Autism Centers, which will be prohibited from seeking reimbursement through Medicaid, according to state officials. 

The decision follows a Wall Street Journal investigation that found the company averaged roughly $340,000 per Medicaid patient in 2023, in part by charging up to $640 per hour for services often delivered by lower-paid staff. Piece by Piece was paid $58 million by the state for autism therapy services from 2019 to 2023. 

State officials said the move was necessary to protect taxpayer funds, even though audits had not concluded the company committed fraud.