Unfortunately, unscrupulous individuals often take advantage of persons in vulnerable situations. Such subjects are prevalent in the substance abuse treatment world and have concocted numerous scams capable of conning those in need out of thousands of dollars.
Therefore, prospective treatment recipients and their families must be made aware of these shady activities, possess the knowledge needed to identify reputable and accredited rehabilitation facilities, and know what steps they should take in the event they encounter dishonorable individuals and institutions.
Specific Types Of Scams
Substance abuse treatment industry scams appear in various different forms. Common examples include:
Patient Enticement
These illegitimate entities offer prospective patients cash or other incentives to enter their facility. No respectable establishment will engage in this practice.
Inaccurate Portrayal Of Services
This egregious violation of trust involves the institution in question lying or embellishing important information such as services provided, staff credentials, amenities offered to patients, the insurance policies they accept, and the conditions they treat.
Exposing Personal Information
Disreputable establishments may share a patient\’s private medical information with public entities. This is not merely a violation of trust but of a law known as HIPAA, an abbreviation for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
Patient Brokering
This unethical practice is divided into two categories: lead selling and lead buying.
Lead selling occurs when an entity pays brokers to identify and secure patients. Lead buying happens when dishonorable treatment facilities bid to secure a patient\’s enrollment. In many instances, the patient is awarded to the establishment offering the highest bid.
Insurance Fraud
Certain disreputable entities overcharge insurance companies. Typically, patients receive inflated charges for common treatments or bills for services not rendered.
Offering Cures
Unscrupulous facilities might lure patients in by offering addiction cures. Prospective rehab attendees should realize that substance dependency cannot be cured per se. Achieving sobriety requires hard work, dedication, and a firm commitment to a treatment plan. The problem is not resolved using any type of highly touted remedy or health craze.
Guarantees
No respected treatment clinic will guarantee success. Numerous establishments hold stellar records in helping patients achieve and maintain sobriety. That said, such positive outcomes hinge on several factors one simply cannot pre-determine.
Indicators Of A Legitimate Facility
Most esteemed establishments will display common professional traits including:
Accreditation
Patients should enroll in programs sponsored by clinics holding the proper accreditation. Reputable establishments are accredited by either the Joint Commission or CARF, which is short for the Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities. Entities bestowed these honors have met rigorous requirements and undergone intense evaluations by industry examiners.
Credentials
Those employed inside accredited establishments will possess the appropriate education and training. The staff should be comprised of licensed and certified medical doctors and trained counselors holding significant experience in the drug treatment realm. Furthermore, this information should be documented and easily accessible to patients and their families.
Length Of Service
Honorable and successful entities last and remain in business because they provide superior service and can boast an excellent track record. Industry professionals recommend those considering a treatment program choose a facility in business for at least five years.
An Individualized Approach
Each recovering addict has their own specific background, feelings, thoughts, and reasons for using. Professional treatment centers understand this fact and possess the capacity to create rehab programs most befitting their needs.
Aftercare
Honorable treatment facilities realize that in-house therapy is a crucial but not final step in the recovery process. In recognition, such entities offer aftercare services or support groups for program graduates.
Actions One Should Take If They Encounter A Scam
Should a prospective treatment recipient or their family identify any of the preceding fraudulent activities, they are strongly encouraged to:
Gather The Proper Evidence
The impacted subjects should gather any evidence of fraudulent behavior such as documents and records. These materials prove crucial to building a case against the offending entity.
Notify The Proper Authorities
Once evidence is gathered, scam victims should retain the services of a lawyer specializing in fraud cases, contact a consumer watchdog group like the Better Business Bureau, and even the police if any suspected criminal activity occurred.
Reaching Out To Us
To learn more about this subject or any other addiction treatment-related topic, please contact us at 833-820-2922. Our team of friendly and eager professionals is available to answer any and all questions.