Pulse brief · 2 cited sources · July 16, 2026
Oklahoma autism provider says seven centers close this month without Medicaid
Mirabelle Care is preparing to file for injunctive relief after the state froze its SoonerCare payments over a fraud investigation into the company's former owner.
Mirabelle Care told Behavioral Health Business on Wednesday that it is preparing to file for injunctive relief against the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, which has withheld the autism therapy provider's SoonerCare payments since a weekly check went unpaid on June 24. The company runs seven centers serving about 500 children and employing roughly 200 people, and says all could close by the end of the month; Medicaid is its largest source of revenue. The state suspended payments after the attorney general's office opened a fraud investigation, by subpoena in November 2025, into the billing practices of previous owner Natalie Hisle. Aquitaine Capital acquired the company earlier this year.
The Health Care Authority says the freeze is largely dictated to it. "As a general matter, federal regulations generally require the agency to suspend payments when there is a credible allegation of fraud and an investigation is pending," a representative told BHB. Mirabelle disputes that the rule, 42 C.F.R. 455.23, is absolute, pointing to a "good cause" exception covering cases where cutting off payments would be bad for patients or for the Medicaid program. The agency considered that argument and rejected it, telling the company's counsel that "no exceptional circumstance has been demonstrated." Elizabeth Broomfield, Mirabelle's president, said federal investigators told her the company is not the focus of their investigation into Hisle.
Families are bracing. Kristyn Posadas, whose 5-year-old son receives therapy at Mirabelle, told KOCO that a year ago she clung to him at a gas station because he elopes, meaning he runs away; on the same trip this year he walked in holding her hand. "I'm very scared," she said. Another parent, Caleb Nutty, said children with autism often struggle with the transition to a new provider. "We're basically spending our last dollars on this," Broomfield said of the legal fight. "We would rather spend those dollars on our patients and our employees."
Evidence
Each statement shown below is a verified claim this source supports.
- Mirabelle Care's seven autism therapy centers in Oklahoma are at risk of closing by the end of the month unless Medicaid/SoonerCare payments resume.
- The Oklahoma Health Care Authority halted Mirabelle Care's SoonerCare/Medicaid payments amid a fraud investigation.
- The fraud investigation concerns the billing practices of the company's former owner.
- The seven centers serve 500 children and employ 200 people.
- Posadas and 500 other families face the possibility of losing access to the centers' services.
- Kristyn Posadas, whose 5-year-old son receives therapy at Mirabelle Care, said that a year ago she clung to him at a gas station because he elopes, meaning he runs away, and that on the same trip this year he got out of the car, held her hand, and walked in.
- Posadas said, "I'm very scared."
- Parent Caleb Nutty said a lot of children with autism have difficulties transitioning and changing routine when switching to a new provider.
- Mirabelle Care's seven autism therapy centers in Oklahoma are at risk of closing by the end of the month unless Medicaid/SoonerCare payments resume.
- The Oklahoma Health Care Authority halted Mirabelle Care's SoonerCare/Medicaid payments amid a fraud investigation.
- Mirabelle Care told Behavioral Health Business on Wednesday that it was working on filing for injunctive relief to force the state to resume payments.
- Mirabelle Care has not received payment since missing its weekly check from the state on June 24.
- Medicaid is Mirabelle Care's largest source of revenue.
- The Oklahoma attorney general's office initiated the investigation via subpoena in November 2025.
- The company's previous owner is Natalie Hisle.
- Aquitaine Capital acquired the company earlier this year.
- An Oklahoma Health Care Authority representative told BHB: "As a general matter, federal regulations generally require the agency to suspend payments when there is a credible allegation of fraud and an investigation is pending."
- Mirabelle Care disputes the absoluteness of the mandate detailed in 42 C.F.R. 455.23, pointing to a "good cause" exception covering cases where cutting off would be bad for patients or bad for the Medicaid program.
- The Oklahoma Health Care Authority considered Mirabelle Care's good-cause contention and rejected it, telling the company's counsel that "no exceptional circumstance has been demonstrated."
- Elizabeth Broomfield, Mirabelle's president, said federal investigators told her Mirabelle Care was not the focus of the federal investigation into previous owner Natalie Hisle.
- Broomfield said of the legal fight: "We're basically spending our last dollars on this" and "we would rather spend those dollars on our patients and our employees."