From Sobriety to Horror: Their Nightmare Journey
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The New York Times
Arizona's addiction treatment system has been exposed as one of the largest and most exploitative frauds in the state's history, with hundreds of rehab centers providing shoddy or nonexistent treatment to vulnerable Native Americans, costing the state up to $1 billion. Many Native Americans seeking help ended up homeless, still struggling with untreated addiction, and some even died in the sober-living homes. The scheme took advantage of gaps in Arizona's program that funds healthcare for low-income tribal members, and operators set up fraudulent companies that billed the state exorbitant amounts for treatment. The Medicaid fund for Native American treatment has since been tightened, and investigations are ongoing.
