California’s Medicaid program was put on the hot seat after a Senate exchange suggested taxpayer dollars can fund “tribal prayers” and even “exorcisms,” raising urgent questions about what counts as health care and who is accountable for policing the bill.
Story Snapshot
- Sen. John Kennedy pressed Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche about California Medicaid benefits, including tribal prayers and exorcisms, and Blanche accepted the characterizations on record [1][3].
- Kennedy’s list also included herbal remedies, housing, meal deliveries, gym memberships, and other nontraditional services that Blanche said are allowed under the program [1][3].
- California officials deny paying for exorcisms specifically, framing the coverage as federally approved traditional tribal health practices, not religious rites [4].
- Lack of underlying policy documents and paid-claim records leaves the public with a political flashpoint but thin specifics on what is actually reimbursed [1][3][4].
On-record Senate exchange raises coverage alarms
Senator John Kennedy used a budget oversight hearing to ask Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche whether California’s Medicaid program pays for services he described as tribal prayers and exorcisms. Blanche replied, “I’ll accept that,” and said the items Kennedy listed are “programs that are allowed under the program.” Kennedy repeatedly referred to California Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal, and pressed about additional nonmedical supports like gym fees and meal deliveries, which Blanche also accepted in broad terms [1].
Kennedy’s questioning framed the program as a “slush fund,” alleging billions in losses over the years and calling out what he saw as fringe or nonmedical services billed to taxpayers. Blanche criticized program abuses generally and acknowledged the permissive structure that lets states add unconventional benefits. The exchange did not provide a Medi-Cal policy bulletin or a claims dataset; it relied on Blanche’s acceptance of Kennedy’s descriptions in real time, without documentary exhibits or billing codes [3].
What California and supporters say is actually covered
California health officials and program defenders counter that Medi-Cal does not pay for exorcisms as such. They state the coverage at issue involves federally approved, culturally specific traditional health practices defined and credentialed by each tribe for Native American patients. The state frames these as part of behavioral health and substance-use support, not religious rites, under authorities that allow culturally responsive services within Medicaid managed care or waivers approved by the federal government [4].
The clash, then, is definitional: critics point to words like exorcism to highlight absurdity and waste, while California describes a narrow, culturally grounded clinical support vetted within federal parameters. The hearing clip does not resolve that conflict. It offers no Medi-Cal provider manual section, no federal approval letter text, and no example of a claim paid with a descriptor that plainly reads “exorcism.” That gap leaves room for sharply different characterizations on both sides [1][3][4].
Nontraditional Medicaid benefits and the slippery slope risk
California’s broader menu of nontraditional supports—such as housing-related help, meal delivery, transportation, and fitness—featured prominently in Kennedy’s questioning. Blanche accepted that such services are among those allowed in the program. Critics argue this scope blurs the line between medical necessity and social policy, inviting abuse and ideological agendas at public expense. Supporters argue targeted nonmedical supports reduce hospitalizations and improve outcomes, fitting within long-standing federal flexibility for home- and community-based care [1][3].
For conservatives, the risk is clear: when state officials stretch benefit categories, costs climb, accountability weakens, and politically favored providers flourish. The hearing also featured allegations of widespread fraud, with talk of billions lost. But the record presented no audit trail connecting specific improper payments to the questioned benefit categories, reinforcing the need for concrete documentation before Congress and the public can separate lawful flexibility from misuse [1][3].
Accountability steps the Trump administration can drive now
The fastest way to cut through theater is sunlight. Federal and state overseers should publish the exact Medi-Cal authority for any traditional healing benefit: the code sets, service definitions, provider credentialing standards, and managed-care contract terms. Congress should request the de-identified claims or encounter data that map each paid service to its description, date, amount, and provider type. If nothing resembles an exorcism, that will be evident; if it does, taxpayers deserve to see it [4].
Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy questions acting AG Todd Blanche on Medicaid spending on 'exorcisms' | https://t.co/XS6oXa7ALb
This is definitely California Stupid!— Scott Sasse (@sasse_scott) May 21, 2026
Targeted audits by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the California State Auditor can test whether payments met federal rules, were medically necessary, and were documented properly. If the service is lawful but misused, recoveries and sanctions should follow. If the service itself stretches beyond statute or waiver authority, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should tighten guidance immediately. Conservative stewardship demands both cultural respect and bright lines that protect taxpayers and core medical priorities [1][3][4].
Sources:
[1] YouTube – Sen. Kennedy questions Todd Blanche on California’s …
[3] YouTube – John Kennedy Goes Off on Todd Blanche During Explosive …
[4] Web – Taxpayer spending on ‘exorcisms’ derails Senate testimony
