Kennedy’s Shocking Claims: Tax Dollars for Exorcisms?

Sen. John Kennedy says California’s Medicaid will fund everything from “tribal prayers” to “exorcisms,” and a Justice Department witness essentially agreed on the record—raising urgent questions about where our tax dollars are going and who is minding the store.

Story Highlights

Senate hearing exchange ties California’s Medicaid (Medi-Cal) to coverage for tribal prayers and alleged exorcisms ^[3]
Witness “accepted” claims that Medi-Cal funds items like herbal medicines, housing supports, meal deliveries, and gym fees ^[3]
California officials publicly deny covering exorcisms, calling it culturally traditional care approved under federal rules ^[4]
Lack of documents showing actual exorcism claims paid leaves a critical evidence gap ^[3]

On-the-Record Clash Over What Medi-Cal Pays For

Senator John Kennedy pressed Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche during a Senate hearing about whether California’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, pays for services Kennedy described as tribal prayers and exorcisms. Blanche responded that he had looked into the matter and said he would “accept that,” adding that these are “programs that are allowed under the program.” The exchange put the claim on the congressional record and connected it directly to California’s Medicaid design, not a generic welfare program.

Kennedy built out the list of nontraditional benefits he said Medi-Cal covers, including herbal medicines, meal deliveries, housing supports, gym memberships, and even student loan repayment. Blanche repeatedly indicated he would accept that description, reinforcing the impression that California’s benefit package includes atypical and arguably non-medical items. While the hearing centered on oversight, not a California policy briefing, the back-and-forth left the audience with the sense of a program far beyond standard medical necessity ^[3].

California’s Denial and the Policy Gray Zone

California officials pushed back on the most explosive charge, stating that Medi-Cal does not cover “exorcisms” as such but does cover federally approved Traditional Health Care Practices defined and credentialed by each tribe. That framing places the benefit inside a cultural and behavioral-health context rather than a religious ritual billed to taxpayers. The state’s response underscores a key dispute: whether critics are labeling culturally grounded services as exorcisms or whether the benefit design has genuinely crossed a line ^[4].

The documentary record available to the public is thin. The hearing exchange is potent rhetoric but not a substitute for a provider manual, waiver authority, or actual claims data showing a reimbursed exorcism. No named provider, billing code, or dollar amount has been produced that proves a paid “exorcism” claim. Without concrete documentation, the most incendiary allegation remains unverified, even as the witness acceptance suggests unusually broad coverage categories under state and federal rules.

Taxpayer Exposure, Program Integrity, and Federal Responsibility

Kennedy and Blanche also invoked program waste and fraud, calling California’s system a “slush fund” and alleging billions stolen over years. Those assertions, though forceful, were not paired in the exchange with specific audits or case files. Still, the juxtaposition matters: when benefits expand into social or cultural domains, policing eligibility, documentation, and medical necessity becomes harder, which can create fertile ground for improper payments and erode public confidence in safety-net programs ^[3].

🚨🇺🇸 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 taxpayers and the Trump administration, the path forward is oversight with proof. Congress and the administration can demand California’s underlying authorities and manuals, require disclosure of billing codes and encounter data, and compel clarity on how “Traditional Health Care Practices” are defined, credentialed, and audited. If services are lawful and effective, transparent rules and measurable outcomes should show it. If not, states must narrow coverage and recover funds. Either way, disciplined accountability, not sensationalism, best protects both patients and taxpayers ^[4].