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Michael Brier, of Newton, used his position as operator of Recovery Connections Centers of America to rake in millions of dollars from Medicare, Medicaid, and other such organizations by falsifying healthcare claims, back-dating documents, and writing prescriptions using the names of doctors without their permission, according to United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Brier was arrested on Thursday, March 2, and charged with healthcare fraud, aggravated identity theft, money laundering, and obstruction.
RCCA, which offered an alternative to methadone called Suboxone, and its former supervisory counselor, Mi Ok Bruining, 62, of Warwick, Rhode Island, were also charged with health care fraud.
“The allegations set forth in this case represent one of the most brazen and egregious examples of health care fraud the FBI has seen here in Rhode Island in recent history, and make no mistake, it is not a victimless crime," said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.
The allegations against Brier, RCCA, and Bruining are as follows:
Brier, Bruining, and RCCA billed federal healthcare organizations for 45-minute counseling sessions when patients were receiving sessions of less than 15 minutes, and often as short as five or 10 minutes. The number of counseling sessions being billed through a given therapist were, at times, impossible for any individual to provide within a 24-hour period.
Millions of dollars of fake billings were submitted to Medicare, on top of which, millions more were submitted to other health care payors.
Brier and RCCA submitted a phony application to Medicare that misrepresented Brier's role in the business and did not include that Brier was convicted of federal tax crimes in 2013, which was needed for Medicare's consideration of the application.
Not stopping at what could be done under his own name, Brier practiced medicine and wrote prescriptions under the names of doctors without their permission.
Brier continued to abuse federal agencies by falsifying and back-dating a document in order to procure the Medical Director's signature.
Brier, Bruining, and RCCA allegedly acquired 13 bank accounts, two buildings, and two vehicles through their fraudulent actions, all of which the government is seeking to forfeit.
“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," said Special Agent in Charge Phillip M. Coyne of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
Recovery Connections Centers of America locations in the following communities have closed:
- Attleboro
- Brockton
- Burlington
- Dartmouth
- Dedham
- Fall River
- Hyannis
- Natick
- Plymouth
- Boston
- Springfield
- Taunton
- Worcester
Patients affected by these closures can find a list of alternate providers in their region at the Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline's website.
Those seeking real-time support, initial clinical assessment, and connection to evaluation and treatment can contact the Behavioral Health Helpline 24/7 at 833-773-2445
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