Senator Kennedy REVEALS California’s Bizarre Medicaid Uses!

A speaker passionately addressing an audience at a conference

Senator John Kennedy just exposed that California’s Medicaid program can bill federal taxpayers for “tribal prayers,” exorcism-style rituals, housing, gym memberships, and even student loans—while Washington still struggles to stop massive fraud.

Story Snapshot

Senator John Kennedy pressed Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on reports that California’s Medicaid program covers exorcisms and tribal spiritual rituals with federal dollars.
Blanche acknowledged on the record that these unconventional services, plus housing, herbal medicine, gym memberships, and more, are “allowed under the program.” ^[1]^[3]
California officials deny paying for “exorcisms” but admit funding traditional spiritual practices for tribal communities. ^[4]
The clash highlights how broad Medicaid waivers, weak oversight, and left-wing priorities turn a safety net into what Kennedy calls a “slush fund” vulnerable to fraud. ^[1]^[3]

Senator Kennedy’s Hearing Bombshell: What California Medicaid Pays For

Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana used a Justice Department budget hearing to drag into daylight what California’s Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal, can bill to American taxpayers. Questioning Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Kennedy listed services including tribal prayers, exorcisms, herbal medicines, meal deliveries, housing, in-home family chefs, gym memberships, bicycles, scooters, and even student loan repayment for health workers. Blanche repeatedly responded that these categories are allowed under the Medicaid program and confirmed California participates. ^[1]^[3]

Kennedy emphasized that this is not some fringe charity but California’s official Medicaid system, funded mostly by federal tax dollars from citizens in every state. He framed the spending as part of a broader pattern of abuse, calling California’s program a “slush fund” that has seen billions stolen through fraud. Blanche agreed that fraud and theft are serious problems and described some providers as “thieves,” while still noting that many of the unusual services Kennedy cited are technically permitted by current rules. ^[1]^[3]

How Spiritual Rituals Became “Health Care” Under Medi-Cal

The controversy traces back to a 2024 expansion, when California opened Medicaid coverage for “traditional healers” and “natural helpers” within tribal communities. A Wall Street Journal report and state announcements described covered services such as ceremonies, rituals, herbal remedies, music therapy, and other spiritual interventions, funded through Medi-Cal. To qualify as a traditional healer, a person must serve as a spiritual leader in a Native American tribe and be contracted with an Indian health provider, while “natural helper” requirements are looser. ^[2]

California’s Health and Human Services Agency now insists Medi-Cal does not literally pay for exorcisms, saying the program covers “Traditional Health Care Practices” approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and defined by each tribe. Officials argue these practices are culturally grounded supports, especially for substance abuse and mental health, not horror-movie exorcisms. Critics respond that when taxpayer money funds spiritual ceremonies and “rituals,” the line between religion and government spending gets blurred, and oversight becomes nearly impossible for average citizens to follow. ^[2]^[4]

Fraud, Waivers, and the Left’s Ever-Expanding Welfare State

The hearing also underscored how complex Medicaid waivers and state flexibility can be twisted far beyond basic medical care. Kennedy highlighted that California’s program pays for housing, meal deliveries, and even in-home chefs if they are family members, plus bicycles, scooters, and gym memberships. Blanche agreed that “several states” have similar perks, but confirmed California definitely does, and conceded that these options fall within what federal rules currently allow. That reality leaves taxpayers footing the bill for lifestyle and social-benefit experiments. ^[1]^[3]

Supporters call these payments “community supports” or “whole-person care,” but conservatives see the same pattern that drove Medicaid costs and fraud sky-high during the last decade: left-wing politicians redefine welfare as a catchall for every social problem and expect Washington to pay the tab. Kennedy also referenced staggering fraud estimates, accusing states like California of treating federal Medicaid dollars as “free money.” Blanche acknowledged systemic fraud and improper payments across Medicaid but did not present detailed numbers for the controversial services Kennedy listed. ^[1]^[3]

What We Know, What We Do Not, and Why It Still Matters

The public record has hard limits. Kennedy’s questioning and Blanche’s answers show that California Medicaid is authorized to cover tribal spiritual services and a wide range of nontraditional supports, and that federal officials accept this as within program rules. However, neither the hearing nor the commentary so far has produced a specific claim form, billing code, provider name, or dollar amount proving that a service explicitly labeled “exorcism” was reimbursed. That gap gives California room to deny the narrow charge while still cashing in on the broader benefit. ^[1]^[2]^[4]

🚨🇺🇸 CA Medicaid (Medi-Cal) is now BILLING taxpayers for exorcisms.
THEY CAN NOT BE SERIOUS.

The program doubled from $100B to a projected $222B by 2026. Trump admin froze $1.4B in federal funding after flagging $600M+ in suspected fraud.

Sen. John Kennedy: “California has 12%… pic.twitter.com/K01ZpDHcoR

— Steven J. Latham (@StevenJLatham1) May 22, 2026

For constitutional conservatives, the problem runs deeper than the semantics of “exorcism.” When a health program created to help the poor see a doctor turns into a vehicle for subsidized spiritual rituals, housing projects, and gym memberships, government is no longer limited, focused, or accountable. The Trump administration’s Justice Department and health agencies now face a test: will they force states like California to tighten benefits and crack down on abuse, or allow progressive bureaucrats to keep stretching Medicaid into a national piggy bank for their cultural agenda? The answer will determine whether hardworking families pay for genuine care—or for someone else’s rituals and scooters. ^[1]^[3]^[4]