Feds charge owner, employee of addiction treatment chain in health care fraud scheme
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday that it is charging the principals of an addiction treatment chain for fraudulently charging for a service that it did not provide to those seeking help in recovery.
Authorities say the addiction treatment chain, which operates in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, would bill the government for services that it would not deliver, thereby cheating a vulnerable population looking for help.
U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha announced charges against Michael Brier, 60, of Newton, Massachusetts, operator of Recovery Connections Centers of America, Inc.
Brier was charged with health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, money laundering, and obstruction.
Cunha also announced a health care fraud charge against Mi Ok Bruining, 62, of Warwick, Rhode Island, who worked as a supervisory counselor with Recovery Connections Centers of America, Inc.
Authorities claim that the actions of Brier and Bruining through RCCA bilked health insurers out of millions of dollars.
“What makes the fraud scheme that we have charged today particularly pernicious – is that not only was this scheme, as we allege, designed to defraud by enriching these defendants with federal and private healthcare dollars they did not earn but that in the process it cheated a vulnerable population of recovery patients out of the full, genuine support and treatment that they need to have a chance at recovery,” Cunha said.
For instance, investigators claim the company would bill for 45-minute counseling sessions but in reality, those sessions were oftentimes only 5 or 10 minutes long.
The charging documents claim that so many of these counseling sessions were billed that the math didn’t add up, and it would be impossible for a therapist to provide such a number in any 24-hour period.
Prosecutors also alleged Brier and RCCA allegedly submitted fraudulent information on an application submitted to Medicare, which concealed the role Brier was playing in the business and his 2013 criminal tax conviction.
Charging documents also allege that Brier filed fraudulent prescriptions using the information of doctors without their permission.
In addition, charging documents allege Brier back-dated documents.
The Recovery Connection Centers of America serves more than 1,600 patients in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
The addiction treatment chain has 12 centers in Massachusetts and two in Rhode Island -- one in Pawtucket with a headquarters in Providence.
“The CEO of Recovery Connection Centers of America tried to conceal and launder the millions of dollars in fraudulent proceeds the company received through investment accounts, the purchase of luxury vehicles, student loan payments, home renovations, and we found tens of thousands of dollars that went toward and oceanfront resort in Panama," Cunha said.
The Justice Department said that as a result of its investigation, an opioid rapid response program has been activated to assist impacted patients.
For patients in Rhode Island in need of a new or an immediate bridge prescription, they can call 401-606-5456.
For help from physicians or counselors, call 401-414-LINK.
For patients in Massachusetts in need of a new or an immediate bridge prescription, they can call 617-414-4175.
For help from physicians or counselors, call 800-327-5050.