‘Brazen and Egregious’ 15 Million Dollars of Fraud at Recovery Connection Centers of America

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March 3, 2023 – Mi Ok Bruining, 62, of Warwick, the company’s former supervisory counselor, was charged with health care fraud, Cunha said. She is alleged to have hired and trained counselors on how to fraudulently bill insurers.

“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, “ Boston FBI Special Agent In Charge Joseph Bonavolonta said at a news conference Thursday.

Authorities say, since 2018, up to 1800 patients have sought help for their addiction at Recovery Connections Centers locations throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and Greater Boston and in Rhode Island.

The feds allege the care was substandard. 45-minute counseling sessions, they say, were actually limited to only five minutes, strictly enforced by the ringing of a bell.

Authorities also allege Brier stole the IDs of doctors to fill prescriptions.

“The Centers opened in in 2018, and the scheme, part of what we allege is that there were about 15 million dollars in total billings private and federal, and part of the allegation is that this center should never have opened because our primary defendant, Mr. Brier used false information to apply federal health care funding, using another individual’s name and health care information,” RI US Attorney Zachary Cunha said.