Key facts
- Autism therapy providers are accused of predatory practices.
- Practices include billing for phantom services and padding hours.
- Steep fees are charged for care delivered by low-paid workers.
- Insurers have issued fraud warnings regarding these providers.
- One case involved a nearly $1 million therapy bill from 'The Perfect Child'.
A Wall Street Journal investigation has uncovered predatory practices within the autism therapy sector. Providers are reportedly billing for services that were never rendered, inflating the hours of care provided, and charging substantial fees for services delivered by underpaid staff. These issues have led insurers to issue fraud warnings. The investigation highlights the case of 'The Perfect Child,' a Brooklyn-based provider that allegedly issued a surprise therapy bill amounting to nearly $1 million. The report suggests a pattern of exploitation within a system meant to support vulnerable individuals.