FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — ABA Centers of America, a high-profile, rapidly expanding firm specializing in autism therapy, has confirmed it is currently the subject of a federal investigation. The inquiry, which centers on the company’s billing practices, marks a significant turning point for the Fort Lauderdale-based organization, which had enjoyed meteoric growth and national accolades in the six years since its inception in 2020.
The firm, operating under its parent company ICBD Holdings, has acknowledged the scrutiny, with company officials stating they are cooperating with federal authorities. While the investigation remains ongoing, no criminal charges have been filed against the company or any individuals associated with it at this time.
The federal probe, which gained momentum in early 2025, is being conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Concord, New Hampshire. Court records reveal that a federal magistrate authorized investigators to search the electronic communications of company founder Christopher M. Barnett and several high-ranking executives. An 81-page federal affidavit supporting the search of Microsoft accounts details a wide-ranging investigation into potential offenses, including healthcare fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, the making of false statements regarding health matters, and the illicit transaction of criminal proceeds.
Allegations of Fraudulent Billing and Systemic Misrepresentation
The core of the federal inquiry, as outlined in the agent’s affidavit, focuses on allegations that the company submitted fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary services. Investigators contend that these claims were filed across multiple jurisdictions, including the District of Massachusetts and the District of New Hampshire. According to the documents, the company is accused of systematically misrepresenting the place of service, the identity of the providers rendering care, and the medical necessity of the treatments provided.
Furthermore, the affidavit suggests that through an affiliated billing entity, ABA Centers of America allegedly billed insurance programs for time periods that did not constitute legitimate medical treatment. Examples cited in the court filings include billing for sessions while a child was napping or watching television. Investigators allege that the firm’s internal operations were driven less by the clinical requirements of patients and more by a rating system designed to categorize children and teenagers based on the potential profit margins that could be extracted from their respective health insurance plans.
Interviews with former employees and patients have provided investigators with a roadmap of these alleged practices. One notable finding detailed in the affidavit suggests that the firm billed services performed in Massachusetts as if they had occurred in New Hampshire. The motivation behind this alleged discrepancy, according to investigators, was that New Hampshire insurance plans offered higher reimbursement rates, allowing the company to capitalize on the geographic disparity.
Beyond the clinical billing allegations, the affidavit paints a portrait of personal enrichment at the expense of insurance providers. Investigators concluded that founder Christopher M. Barnett allegedly utilized the proceeds from these billing activities to sustain an extravagant lifestyle, including the acquisition of luxury automobiles and a corporate jet, alongside the leasing of a multi-million dollar waterfront residence in Fort Lauderdale.
Concurrent Civil Litigation and Insurance Fraud Allegations
The legal pressure on ABA Centers of America is not limited to the federal criminal investigation. The company is currently embroiled in multiple civil lawsuits filed by insurance providers and employer health plans that echo the allegations of fraud raised by federal authorities.
Among the most significant of these is a dispute with Publix Super Markets and its corporate health benefits plan. Initially, ABA Centers of America filed suit against the grocery chain in Florida state court, claiming millions of dollars in unpaid medical claims. Publix responded with a robust federal counterclaim in the Middle District of Florida, invoking the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The retailer is seeking approximately $15 million in damages, alleging that the firm presented itself as a high-quality autism therapy provider while simultaneously engaging in a scheme to generate massive, unjustified claims.
In late 2025, the Publix litigation was transferred to the Southern District of Florida, where U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal allowed six of the nine counts in the complaint to proceed. In an August 2025 order, Judge Singhal noted the gravity of the allegations, observing that the civil case describes behavior that could potentially warrant criminal prosecution.
Judge Singhal’s order provided a detailed breakdown of the alleged billing scheme, noting that the defendants reportedly submitted inflated bills to the insurance plan. The court noted that if a bill for a 15-minute appointment was submitted for $1,000, the insurance plan would cover its percentage, while the patient was expected to cover the remainder. However, the judge noted that the $1,000 figure was purportedly false, as the company never intended to collect that total amount. By inflating the bill, the firm allegedly induced the insurance plan to pay a higher share of a fictitious total, while the patients—who often faced minimal out-of-pocket costs—remained unaware of the disparity.
Similar litigation is underway in Massachusetts, where Point32Health Services and its subsidiary, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, have filed an amended counterclaim against ABA Centers of America and its affiliate, Integrative Healthcare Services. The insurers are seeking more than $19 million, alleging a sophisticated and far-reaching scheme to defraud their systems.
A Philanthropic Reversal and Institutional Scrutiny
The fallout from the ongoing investigation has reached far beyond the healthcare industry, impacting the company’s public profile and philanthropic relationships. In late 2025, Temple University, the alma mater of Christopher M. Barnett, announced that it had reached a mutual agreement to terminate a $55 million donation pledge from the founder.
The donation, which had been announced just a year prior, was set to be the largest in the university’s history. In recognition of the gift, the school had renamed its College of Public Health the "Christopher M. Barnett College of Public Health." However, following the emergence of news regarding the federal investigation, university leadership—including President John Fry and Board Chair Mitchell L. Morgan—confirmed that the commitment had been canceled and the naming rights rescinded. The university noted that no funds had actually been transferred to the school prior to the termination of the agreement. In a letter to the campus community, university officials acknowledged that Barnett "strenuously" denied any wrongdoing and cited a "life-threatening" medical issue, though they provided no further details.
Corporate Response and Business Model Defense
Despite the mounting legal challenges, ABA Centers of America has defended its business model, describing it as "disruptive to the status quo." Maria Isina Areco, director of public relations for the firm and its parent company, ICBD Holdings, confirmed in an emailed statement that the firm is aware of the federal investigation and is actively working with authorities.
"We always knew that our business model is disruptive to the status quo and upends current business models for both providers and payors," the company said. "It is also important to note that this investigation does not appear to be focused on the quality of the care that we provide."
The company emphasized its commitment to addressing the needs of families affected by autism, stating that it works to move children off long waiting lists for care. "We have always been guided by our mission to deliver life-changing outcomes for people with autism and their families," the statement continued. "As our company grows and matures, we have continued to increase our investment in staff training on compliance and documentation of our work."
The firm, which expanded rapidly from its founding in 2020 to establish centers across more than 10 states, has seen its revenue climb to the top of industry rankings, including notable placements on the Inc. 5000 list. While the company maintains that its diagnostic tools and clinical treatment plans are data-driven and science-backed, it continues to face significant hurdles as federal and civil investigators scrutinize the foundational practices of its billing and operations. As the legal proceedings unfold, the firm maintains that its care decisions are guided by authorized treatment plans and that insurance providers only issue payments for services that have been formally cleared.
