If one were looking for competitive healthcare rates, a building housing 14 different home healthcare companies would seem like a logical starting point. However, as Apple Lamps reports, Nick Shirley discovered that these buildings in Minneapolis aren't competing for business—they appear to be cooperating in fraud.

The Healthcare Clusters

Following leads on a massive fraud scandal, Shirley visited several office buildings locals describe as "healthcare malls." In one building alone, his team counted 14 separate Somali-owned home healthcare LLCs. In another, there were 22.

The Scheme

The allegation Shirley investigated is that these companies bill the state for Personal Care Assistant (PCA) services and transportation that never happen. The evidence Shirley captured was telling: when he entered these businesses asking to sign up a "family member," the reaction was panic. Doors were shut, "no trespassing" signs were pointed out, and eventually, the police were called to escort him out.

Shirley also observed transportation vans—allegedly billing for medical rides—that hadn't moved in months, sitting in snowy lots with no footprints around them.

Confronting the Enablers

The most shocking part of the investigation was the government's response. Shirley took his findings to the Minnesota State Capitol. When he confronted a Democrat representative about the fraud happening under the current administration, the response was a deflection to "non-partisan" talking points. She claimed she didn't think anybody was enabling fraud, despite the FBI raids and billions in documented losses. Shirley's investigation suggests a money-laundering machine operating in plain sight, protected by a political class unwilling to ask hard questions.