Broke or Brokering? –
April 12, 2018 – Southern California is a hub for substance abuse treatment facilities. It’s a lucrative industry – and patient advocates say this has led to unsavory practices … Treatment facilities hire people to recruit patients, often targeting people with insurance. The “broker” gets paid for the referral. Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena), who is sponsoring a bill outlawing the practice, says it does more harm than good. “What appears as a strong incentive to help addicts hoping to recover has instead invited unscrupulous individuals and programs to take advantage of a vulnerable population,” Bradford said. SB 1268 would make patient brokering a misdemeanor, punishable by a $2,500 fine.
