Local lawmaker aims to stop patient brokering among addiction patients
As the opioid epidemic increases in California, more and more fake facilities are preying on desperate patients. These so-called rehab centers are taking advantage of patients while bilking insurance companies. Former patients and a local lawmaker are trying to stop the abuse.
Category: Good Ethics
Google attempts to make right with ads for drug rehabs
Exclusive: Google unveils vetting process for drug rehab ads
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Google told Reuters Monday it would resume accepting ads from U.S. addiction treatment centers in July, nearly a year after the Alphabet Inc () unit suspended the lucrative category of advertisers for numerous deceptive and misleading ads. Treatment centers now will be able to run ads after being vetted by Portland, Ore.
It will be interesting to see how this works out, and if the “vetting company” passes muster in terms of strict ethics themselves.
Delray sober-home operator faces patient-brokering charges
BREAKING: Delray sober-home operator faces patient-brokering charges
A woman identified by police as the operator of a Delray Beach sober home is charged with receiving at least $65,800 to refer residents to the London Treatment Center in West Palm Beach, whose owners were arrested last year by Palm Beach County’s Sober Home Task Force.
California Bill Targets Profiteering
Calif. Bill Targets Profiteering In Addiction Treatment, Dialysis Industries
Insight provides an in-depth look at health care issues in and affecting California. Have a story suggestion? Let us know. This story can be republished for free ( details). [UPDATED at 11:20 a.m.
Florida prosecutor Dave Aronberg sees parallels in rogue rehabs in Florida and Southern California
Florida prosecutor Dave Aronberg sees parallels in rogue rehabs in Florida and Southern California
Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas recently created a task force to handle abuses in the anti-addiction industry in the “Rehab Riviera.” Rackauckas is hoping to repeat the success of Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg, who created a similar task force two years ago.
Google Cracking Down
Exclusive: Google is cracking down on sketchy rehab ads
Around the country today, marketers in the $35 billion addiction treatment industry woke up to an unpleasant surprise: Many of their Google search ads were gone. Overnight, the search giant has stopped selling ads against a huge number of rehab-related search terms, including “rehab near me,” “alcohol treatment,” and thousands of others.
“While many treatment centers market themselves ethically, there are also significant numbers of bad actors using deceptive and even illegal tactics to get “heads in beds.” “
Avoiding Fraud
Avoiding Fraud and Abuse Claims in Addiction Treatment: Tips for Getting and Staying in Compliance – Nelson Hardiman
(The following is an Executive Summary of the presentation Zach Rothenberg gave at the Impact BH Conference in Indian Wells, CA on January 30, 2017.) Until relatively recently, most addiction treatment services were considered a luxury item: recovering addicts would pay cash for their time getting clean in fancy facilities.
Florida: Lawmakers Attempting to Solve
Florida Lawmakers on the Attack with Addiction Treatment Law
By: Jacqueline Bain New updates in addiction treatment law. On February 8, 2017, Florida Senator Jeff Clemens (Dem.) filed a bill entitled “Marketing Practices for Substance Abuse Services” (SB 0788). A sister bill was filed in Florida’s House of Representatives by Bill Hager (Rep.) on February 13, 2017 (HB 807).
A Recovery Home Legislation that targets brokering
Knight introduces new Recovery Home act
Representative Steve Knight,R-Palmdale, and Representative Anna Eshoo, D-Atherton, introduced legislation Tuesday to help combat fraud and abuse within the addiction recovery industry. The Recovery Home Certification Act, introduced as H.R. 5100 on Tuesday, would establish model quality standards in order for organizations to receive certifications as a recovery home.
CA Lawmakers resolve to control rogue rehaps this year.
Lawmakers resolve to control rogue rehabs this year
SACRAMENTO – California’s troubled addiction treatment industry may face stricter oversight and a raft of new requirements in 2018, as lawmakers try to protect vulnerable patients and reduce blatant fraud.
