Dear Neighbors,  

This week brought more concerning news about fraud within state programs. Unfortunately, these issues continue to surface on a regular basis, pointing to deeper problems that need to be addressed. While this is frustrating, it underscores the importance of the work ahead. I want to assure you that strengthening oversight and implementing better safeguards to prevent fraud remains a top priority, and we are continuing to push for meaningful reforms to protect taxpayer dollars. Let’s get into the latest on the fraud. 

This week, the Office of the Legislative Auditor released a report on the state’s Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) program, which provides important services to children with autism. While the program serves a critical purpose for families, the report raised serious concerns about how it has been managed and overseen. The review looked at how the Minnesota Department of Human Services handled complaints between 2017 and 2024 and found that in multiple cases, allegations involving potential kickbacks were not fully investigated.  

One of the most concerning findings is that the Department of Human Services failed to investigate credible allegations of kickbacks, claiming it did not have the authority to do so, even though the Legislative Auditor found that authority had existed for decades. In multiple instances, complaints involving potential kickback schemes were simply closed without investigation, not referred to law enforcement, and not flagged for further review. This was not a gray area in the law. The auditor made clear that DHS had several legal avenues to act but chose an overly narrow interpretation that allowed these cases to go unaddressed.  

As a result, serious warning signs were missed and opportunities to stop potential fraud earlier were lost. The report highlights that this was not an isolated oversight, but a broader failure in how the department approached enforcement and accountability. DHS officials operated under the assumption that they could not investigate kickbacks unless they were tied to other forms of fraud, a position the auditor explicitly rejected. Meanwhile, the EIDBI program has grown rapidly in recent years and has already been identified as high-risk for fraud, making the lack of action even more unacceptable. 

While the report notes that some complaints were handled appropriately, the overall pattern is clear. DHS did not consistently take the steps necessary to investigate credible allegations, enforce the law, or protect taxpayer dollars. In several cases, stronger and more timely action should have been taken, including launching full investigations, withholding payments, or referring cases for enforcement. 

The bottom line is straightforward. This report shows a failure to use existing authority, a failure to act on clear warning signs, and a failure to ensure accountability within a rapidly growing program. These gaps allowed vulnerabilities to persist, and that must be addressed to restore public trust, protect taxpayer dollars, and ensure these services are delivered with integrity to the families who rely on them. I will continue working on solutions to strengthen oversight, clarify authority, and make sure programs like EIDBI operate with both integrity and effectiveness, so they can serve the families who rely on them while preventing misuse. 

For April, Coffee with Tom will meet in Owatonna on Friday, April 10th  from 12:00 – 1:00 pm at the Owatonna Chamber of Commerce. This is a change due to Good Friday occurring on April 3rd, 2026. In addition, Owatonna Mayor Matt Jessop will be joining me on April 10th, 2026. 

Coffee with Tom in Waseca will be on Friday, April 17th  from 12:00 – 1:00 pm at the Waseca Chamber of Commerce. This is a change due to Good Friday occurring on April 3rd, 2026, as we shifted the schedule back one week. 

Please note that we will not host Coffee with Tom during the month of May due to our uncertain legislative schedule. As we move towards the end of session on May 18th, 2026, we could be in-session all seven days of the week. 

Thank you for your support and feedback, I hope to see you there!