Sen. John Kennedy from Louisiana has voiced his concerns over California’s Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal, during a recent Senate hearing. The criticism follows allegations of fraud within the program, which has come under scrutiny from the Trump administration. During the hearing, Kennedy pointed to reports that Medi-Cal funds are being used to cover exorcisms and other religious healing practices.

California’s Medicaid spending has seen significant increases, more than doubling since 2019. It rose from approximately $100.7 billion to a projected $222 billion by 2026. The Trump administration responded last week by suspending $1.4 billion in federal funding for the state’s home health and hospice programs. This action was taken after an anti-fraud task force led by Vice President J.D. Vance identified an estimated $600 million in suspected fraud within the system.

California’s got 12% of the population in the last ten years. They’re responsible for half of these new so-called health providers to provide exorcisms and other things, Kennedy stated during his questioning of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Now, what the hell are we doing about it? Why has this gone on for so long?

The Wall Street Journal first reported that California provides Medicaid coverage for exorcisms and various spiritual rituals. In 2024, Medi-Cal expanded its services for tribes to include traditional healers and natural helpers. California covers not only music therapy but also spiritual interventions like ceremonies, rituals, and herbal remedies. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office explained that these services aim at helping tribes heal from historical injustices.

To be acknowledged as a traditional healer by the state, an individual must have served as a spiritual leader within an American Indian tribe for at least two years. They also need to work with an Indian Health Care Provider. In contrast, the requirements for a natural helper are less strict, applying to anyone deemed trustworthy within a tribe.

Gov. Newsom stated that this expansion aims to address long-standing disparities resulting from historical wrongs inflicted on tribes. By supporting greater access to traditional medicine and healing, we are taking another step toward a healthier, brighter future, he noted in a press release.

The financial details on how much Medi-Cal has spent on these traditional and natural healing services remain unclear. The California Department of Health and Human Services did not provide answers to Fox News Digital’s inquiries at the time of publication.