2026年8月7日 美国东部时间凌晨5:38 / 福克斯新闻频道
自闭症家庭联盟警告，广泛的反欺诈行动可能会给自闭症儿童设置障碍
作者：兰登·米恩 福克斯新闻
前检察官安德鲁·切尔卡斯基警告医疗保健欺诈是一场“黑帮式行动”
前联邦检察官安德鲁·切尔卡斯基加入主持人哈里斯·福克纳的《福克纳焦点》节目，就司法部破获大规模医疗补助医疗欺诈计划一事作出回应。切尔卡斯基警告称，这些胆大妄为的行动有组织犯罪集团的影子，它们大肆窃取数百万州政府关键资金，当基本医疗资源枯竭时，会将弱势美国人的生命置于严重危险之中。
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【福克斯新闻独家报道】 美国自闭症护理服务机构正在支持特朗普政府打击医疗补助欺诈的行动，他们认为，据称有数百万联邦资金被盗，这既损害了纳税人的利益，也损害了依赖这些服务的自闭症儿童的利益。
由自闭症临床医生、行为治疗师和自闭症儿童家庭组成的联盟公开表态，支持政府努力追究那些涉嫌滥用医疗补助系统的人的责任。
该组织名为“自闭症家庭联盟”，自称是一个全国性倡导组织，致力于支持应用行为分析（ABA）服务机构以及依赖其服务的家庭。其目标是确保每个儿童和家庭都能获得高质量的护理，不受不必要的障碍、服务缩减或资金削减的影响。
“我们从事这项工作，是因为我们相信每个孩子都应该有机会沟通、获得独立，并过上尽可能充实的生活，”自闭症家庭联盟的家庭倡导者泰勒·桑德斯告诉福克斯新闻数字频道。“我曾与那些从不会说话到找回自己声音的孩子合作过。我见过家庭从恐惧和不确定走向希望，因为他们的孩子终于取得了进步。正是这些时刻让我们坚持下去。这就是我们存在的意义。”
【观看】 奥兹医生称纽瑟姆及其他蓝州将医疗补助欺诈变成了“标配”
美国自闭症护理服务机构正在支持特朗普政府打击医疗补助欺诈的行动。（内森·霍华德/盖蒂图片社）
“特朗普总统和政府的做法是正确的：欺诈是不可接受的，相关责任人应该受到法律的最严厉起诉，”桑德斯补充道。
该组织认为，欺诈者据称偷走的每一笔钱，本应用于帮助自闭症儿童学习沟通、获得独立并获得他们所需的护理。
成员们强烈支持消除欺诈并起诉涉嫌罪犯，但他们也担心，联邦和州层面广泛的根除欺诈行动可能会在无意中给合法机构照顾自闭症儿童带来更多困难。
包括佐治亚州、北卡罗来纳州和印第安纳州在内的一些州已经采取措施加强对自闭症服务的监管。
但该联盟呼吁政策制定者确保将欺诈者从系统中清除，同时不会给寻求护理的弱势儿童家庭造成他们所说的不必要障碍。
“和我一起工作的家庭非常担心，由于政府对这些罪犯的应对措施，他们孩子的护理可能会中断，”桑德斯说。“对这些家庭来说，获得这些项目的资格不是一个政治议题，而是他们的生命线。失去这条生命线是父母每天都在担心的真正恐惧。随着一些州开始打击欺诈，我们必须确保我们的目标是欺诈者，而不是给那些试图为孩子获取所需护理的家庭设置新的障碍。”
该联盟对政府反欺诈行动的立场，与最近担任医疗保险和医疗补助服务中心主任的穆罕默德·奥兹医生的言论相呼应。
【阅读】 奥兹医生就数十亿美元医疗补助欺诈损失向所有50个州长发出警告
由自闭症临床医生、行为治疗师和自闭症儿童家庭组成的联盟公开表态，支持政府努力追究那些涉嫌滥用医疗补助系统的人的责任。（路透社/凯莉·库珀）
“好消息是，我们最大的盟友是那些正确行事的人，”奥兹在今年早些时候的一次新闻发布会上说，当时他宣布了一项全国性的全面反欺诈倡议，针对各州数十亿美元的医疗补助和医疗保险资金流失问题。
“他们是那些正确开展临终关怀、家庭医疗保健服务的人，也是我们国家为自闭症患者所需的一切服务做出正确行动的人。这些人实际上感到沮丧和愤怒，因为我们允许、纵容那些不仅伤害他们关心的人，还不当窃取他们生意的欺诈者，”他当时说道。
北卡罗来纳州夏洛特市的罗西奥·贝尼是一名自闭症儿童曼尼的母亲，她谈到了自己的孩子如何从ABA服务中获益。
“与ABA治疗服务机构合作对我的儿子来说益处巨大，”她告诉福克斯新闻数字频道。“曼尼曾深受发脾气之苦，虽然他喜欢和其他孩子在一起，但他因为无法与他们沟通而感到沮丧。”
“如今，通过敬业的治疗师的工作，我们学会了更好地规范他的行为，”她继续说道。“我的儿子现在能够主动接近其他孩子，我们希望他能够进行基本的、有意义的对话。我根本无法想象没有这种护理他的生活会是什么样子。我祈祷政策制定者能确保曼尼和其他类似的孩子能够继续获得这种必要的护理。”
同样是自闭症家庭联盟的家庭倡导者凯尔西·贝内特表示，欺诈“在医疗保健领域没有立足之地”，并强调ABA“也不例外”。
“作为一名执业临床医生，看到少数不法分子的行为给成千上万致力于改善自闭症儿童及其家庭生活的道德临床医生的声誉蒙上阴影，令人沮丧，”她告诉福克斯新闻数字频道。
该联盟对政府反欺诈行动的立场，与穆罕默德·奥兹医生的言论相呼应。（奥利弗·孔特雷拉斯/法新社 via 盖蒂图片社）
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贝内特表示，她支持追究欺诈者责任的举措，但警告称必须谨慎地锁定目标。
“我们完全支持努力识别并追究那些参与欺诈性计费、不当索赔或不合格护理的人的责任，”贝内特说。“欺诈损害纳税人利益，破坏人们对医疗系统的信任，损害合法服务机构的声誉，最重要的是，将弱势儿童置于危险之中。”
“与此同时，打击欺诈的努力必须有针对性地进行，”她继续说道。“旨在制止滥用行为的政策应将责任归咎于相关方，同时不会给寻求医疗必需服务的家庭造成不必要的障碍。对于自闭症儿童来说，护理的连贯性和连续性对长期进步至关重要，大幅限制用于监督和评估的远程医疗服务，可能会进一步限制农村和服务不足地区家庭获得护理的机会。家庭不应该担心广泛的政策变化或行政负担会中断他们孩子赖以生存的治疗。”
“绝大多数ABA服务机构都致力于诚信地提供高质量、循证护理，”她补充道。“有效的政策应该在消除欺诈、保护公共资源的同时，为这些项目旨在服务的儿童和家庭保留及时获得医疗必需治疗的机会。自闭症儿童绝不应该为少数不道德服务机构的行为承担后果。”
Autism providers cheer Trump crackdown after millions allegedly stolen from children through Medicaid fraud
August 7, 2026 5:38am EDT / Fox News
The Autism Families Alliance warns broad anti-fraud efforts could create barriers for autistic children
By Landon Mion Fox News
Former prosecutor Andrew Cherkasky warns healthcare fraud is a ‘mob operation’
Former federal prosecutor Andrew Cherkasky joins host Harris Faulkner on ‘The Faulkner Focus’ to react to DOJ takedowns of massive Medicaid healthcare fraud schemes. Cherkasky warns that these brazen operations mirror organized crime syndicates, actively looting millions in critical state funds and putting the lives of vulnerable Americans at serious risk when essential healthcare resources dry up.
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FIRST ON FOX: American autism care providers are backing the Trump administration’s crackdown on Medicaid fraud, arguing that the alleged theft of millions of federal funds has hurt both taxpayers and children with autism who rely on those services.
A coalition of autism clinicians, behavioral therapists and families of children with autism are speaking out in favor of the administration’s efforts to hold people accountable for the suspected exploitation of the Medicaid system.
The group — the Autism Families Alliance — describes itself as a national advocacy organization dedicated to supporting Applied Behavior Analysis providers and the families who rely on their services. It aims to ensure that every child and family has access to high-quality care without unnecessary barriers, reduced access or funding cuts.
“We do this work because we believe every child deserves the chance to communicate, gain independence, and live the fullest life possible,” Taylor Sanders, a family advocate at the Autism Families Alliance, told Fox News Digital. “I’ve worked with children who found their voice after being nonverbal. I’ve watched families go from fear and uncertainty to hope because their child was finally making progress. Those are the moments that keep us going. That’s why we’re here.”
WATCH: DR. OZ SAYS NEWSOM, OTHER BLUE STATES HAVE TURNED MEDICAID FRAUD INTO A ‘FEATURE’
American autism care providers are backing the Trump Administration’s crackdown on Medicaid fraud.(Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
“President Trump and the administration are right: fraud is unacceptable and those responsible should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Sanders added.
The group argues that every dollar allegedly stolen by fraudsters should have been used to help a child with autism learn to communicate, gain independence and receive the care they need.
The members strongly support eliminating fraud and prosecuting suspected criminals, but they also fear that broad federal and state efforts to root out fraud could unintentionally make it more difficult for legitimate providers to care for children with autism.
Some states, including Georgia, North Carolina and Indiana, have taken steps to enhance oversight of autism services.
But the coalition is calling on policymakers to ensure fraudsters are removed from the system without creating what they describe as unnecessary barriers for families of vulnerable children seeking care.
“There’s real concern among the families I work with that their children’s care could be interrupted because of the government’s response to these criminals,” Sanders said. “Access to these programs aren’t a political talking point to these families, it’s their lifeline. Losing this lifeline is a real fear that parents worry about every day.As some states move to crack down on fraud, we have to make sure we’re targeting fraudsters, not putting new barriers in front of families trying to get their children the care they need.”
The coalition’s stance on the administration’s fraud crackdown echoes comments made recently by Dr. Mehmet Oz, who serves as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
READ: DR. OZ PUTS ALL 50 GOVERNORS ON NOTICE OVER BILLIONS LOST TO MEDICAID FRAUD
A coalition of autism clinicians, behavioral therapists and families of children with autism are speaking out in favor of the administration’s efforts to hold people accountable for the suspected exploitation of the Medicaid system.(REUTERS/Kylie Cooper)
“The good news is, our biggest allies are the folks who are doing it right,” Oz said at a press briefing earlier this year as part of an announcement of a sweeping national anti-fraud initiative targeting multi-billion dollar Medicaid and Medicare leakage across various states.
“They are the people who are doing hospice right, home healthcare right, who are doing all the things that we need for autism in this country. Those people come to us actually frustrated, angry that we’re allowing, tolerating fraudsters who not only hurt people they care about but are stealing their business inappropriately,” he said at the time.
Rocio Berni, the mother of an autistic child, Manny, in Charlotte, North Carolina, spoke about how her child has benefited from ABA providers.
“Working alongside ABA therapy providers has been immensely beneficial for my son,” she told Fox News Digital. “Manny struggled with tantrums, and while he loved being around other children, he was frustrated by his inability to communicate with them.”
“Today, through the work of dedicated therapists, we have learned to better regulate his behavior,” she continued. “My son is now able to approach other children, and we hope he will be able to carry on basic, fulfilling conversations. I simply can’t imagine what his life would be like without this care. I pray that policymakers will ensure that Manny and children like him maintain access to this essential care.”
Kelsey Bennett, also a family advocate at the Autism Families Alliance, said fraud has “no place” in healthcare, emphasizing that ABA is “no exception.”
“As a practicing clinician, it is disheartening to see the actions of a small number of bad actors cast a shadow over the thousands of ethical clinicians who have dedicated their careers to improving the lives of children with autism and their families,” she told Fox News Digital.
The coalition’s stance on the administration’s fraud crackdown echoes comments made by Dr. Mehmet Oz.(Oliver Contreras/AFP via Getty Images)
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Bennett said she backs moves to hold fraudsters accountable, but warned that those targets must be carefully pursued.
“We fully support efforts to identify and hold accountable those who engage in fraudulent billing, improper claims, or substandard care,” Bennett said. “Fraud harms taxpayers, undermines trust in the healthcare system, damages the reputation of legitimate providers, and, most importantly, puts vulnerable children at risk.”
“At the same time, efforts to combat fraud must be carefully targeted,” she continued. “Policies designed to stop abuse should focus on those responsible without creating unnecessary barriers for families seeking medically necessary services. For children with autism, consistency and continuity of care are critical to long-term progress, and significantly limiting telehealth for supervision and assessments can further restrict access for families in rural and underserved areas. Families should not have to worry that broad policy changes or administrative burdens will interrupt the treatment their children rely on.”
“The overwhelming majority of ABA providers are committed to providing high-quality, evidence-based care with integrity,” she added. “Effective policy should protect public resources by eliminating fraud while preserving timely access to medically necessary treatment for the children and families these programs were created to serve. Children with autism should never bear the consequences of the unethical actions of a small minority of providers.”