Autism Clinic In Austin Raided By Federal Authorities

By Mary Ann Roser

CARE Clinics, an autism clinic on Bee Cave Road that was being investigated by insurance companies over insurance claims, was raided
by the FBI and IRS agents.

The clinic has been closed, perhaps permanently.

Agents are removing dozens of boxes of documents, but they declined to say what they are looking for. They directed inquiries to Special IRS Agent Mike Lemoine, who did not immediately return a call.

Kazuko Grace Curtin, owner of the CARE Clinics, said in a brief phone call that the clinic at 4201 Bee Cave Road has “finally closed.” She said she was on the property talking to “a man and a woman” but didn’t know what was going on. She declined to comment for this article.

Kurt Simons Co., property manager of The Schoolyard, where CARE Clinics once had a 9,000-square-foot space, locked out clinic employees this morning because of “outstanding matters,” said Karen Wendler, the company’s vice president. The clinic had recently reduced its space to 2,700 square feet.

Soon after the company locked out Curtin and her staff today, the federal agents showed up. The lockout was not related to the raid, Wendler said.

Wendler declined to say what problems led to the lockout.

“We helped her get started and we did not have a history of any problems,” Wendler said.

Traffic at the clinic had slowed, she said.

In a previous Statesman article, Curtin said three major insurance companies were investigating billings by CARE Clinics, causing her financial problems. She had cut staff and clinic hours and had unpaid bills, she said.

CARE clinics mainly treated children with autism using alternative therapies typically frowned on by mainstream doctors. Though some parents who brought their children to CARE Clinics say they’ve seen improvements in their child’s autistic behaviors, critics say the clinic uses therapies that lack strong scientific evidence. The clinic commonly uses intravenous chelation on patients, a controversial treatment that introduces a chemical solution into the body to bind with a metal or other substance to be removed.

Please Note:
The Center for Autism & Related Disorders (CARD) is in no way affiliated with CARE Clinics in Austin.

CARD remains open and our clinicians are available
should parents have any questions about our services.

For more information about CARD Austin,
please contact:
Erica Worcester, CARD Austin's Managing Supervisor
3001 Bee Caves Rd. Suite 150
Austin, TX 78746
Phone: (866) 833-3898