Latest / Becker's Healthcare Behavioral Health / Former NFL Player, Alliance Health Open Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center; 15 Addiction Treatment Centers Close Following CEO Fraud Charges

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Former NFL Player, Alliance Health Open Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center; 15 Addiction Treatment Centers Close Following CEO Fraud Charges · Becker's Healthcare Behavioral Health

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  This is Randy Homan with Becker's Behavioral Health Podcast.
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  Here's your daily industry news brief,
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  March 6th First,
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  former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith, North Carolina,
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  Mecklenburg County,
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  and Alliance Health will open a behavioral health urgent care center in
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  Charlotte, North Carolina.
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  Mecklenburg County is committing 2 million for construction and
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  $750,000 for ongoing operational costs.
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  The Steve Smith Family Foundation and Alliance Health are each committing
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  $800,000.
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  The facility will be open 24 7 and be run by behavioral healthcare provider.
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  SafeMark Recovery Services,
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  its mission is to keep individuals experiencing an urgent mental health crisis
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  outta hospitals and jails.
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  The center will offer services to patients regardless of ability to pay.
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  Second Liberty Township Police in Ohio arrest six adolescents
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  after a riot at a youth behavioral health hospital in Belmont.
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  Pines officials recovered several homemade weapons.
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  The incident involved at least five patients in the hospital's girls unit.
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  All six arrested are facing charges of Aggravated Riot.
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  No staff or patients were injured. The facility sustained minor damage.
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  It remains open and fully operational.
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  Third,
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  the Recovery Connection Centers of America closes all 15 of its facilities
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  across Rhode Island in Massachusetts,
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  after its founder was charged with healthcare fraud.
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  The people charged includes 60 year old Michael Byer of Newton, Massachusetts,
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  62 year old me, Oak Bruning of Warwick, Rhode Island,
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  and Recovery Connection Centers of America.
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  They've been charged by criminal complaint with healthcare fraud. Mr.
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  Breyer was also charged with aggravated identity theft, money laundering,
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  and obstruction.
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  The defendants allegedly shortchanged substance abuse patients.
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  They also allegedly defrauded Medicaid, Medicare,
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  and other health insurers for millions of dollars by billing for 45 minute
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  counseling sessions on a routine basis.
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  Despite the sessions lasting less than 15 minutes,
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  allegedly the counseling sessions were built at a level that the total amount of
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  time would be impossible for the available therapist to provide.
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  In a 24 hour period. Ms.
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  Bruning was the supervisory counselor who allegedly trained other counselors on
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  how to fraudulently bill for services. Mr.
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  Breyer and R C C A are also alleged to have submitted a fraudulent application
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  to Medicare application concealed Mr. Breyer's role with the facility.
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  The application also allegedly failed to disclose Mr.
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  Brower's criminal conviction for federal tax crimes in 2013.
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  The Justice Department says this is relevant to.
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  Medicare's consideration of the application. Mr.
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  Byers is also accused of claiming to practice medicine and writing fraudulent
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  prescriptions, using names, prescriber information,
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  and drug enforcement administration numbers of physicians.
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  Without their permission,
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  the government is looking to forfeit 13 bank accounts,
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  two buildings and two vehicles related to the defendants.
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  As a result of the alleged crimes,
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  the 15 close facilities formerly served 1,600 patients.
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  Thanks for listening.
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  Subscribe to the Becker's Behavioral Health Report e newsletter on our website
• 3:39
  at www.beckersbehavioralhealth.com.