Southern New England addiction treatment center accused of health care fraud

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha said Thursday a Southern New England addiction treatment center — that’s headquartered in Providence — is accused of health care fraud.

Cunha said that 60-year-old Michael Brier, 62-year-old Mi Ok Bruining, and Recovery Connections Centers of America, Inc. were charged with health care fraud.

Brier, who’s from Newton, Massachusetts, was also charged with aggravated identity theft, money laundering and obstruction.

Cunha said Brier, Bruining, Recovery Connections Centers of America allegedly “shortchanged Rhode Island and Massachusetts substance abuse disorder patients out off much needed counseling and treatment services.”

They are also accused of defrauding Medicare, Medicaid, and other health insurers out of millions of dollars.

This is a photo of Recovery Connections Centers of America, Inc. in Pawtucket. (WLNE)

Brier and Recovery Connections Centers of America allegedly submitted a fraudulent application to Medicare that misrepresented and hid the 60-year-old’s role in the business and failed to disclose his 2013 criminal conviction for federal tax crimes — which was relevant to Medicare’s consideration of the application, said Cunha.

“Brier purported to practice medicine and wrote and caused to be filled fraudulent prescriptions using the names and prescriber information, including Drug Enforcement Administration numbers, of doctors without their permission,” said federal prosecutors.

He also falsified a document by “causing the Medical Director to sign a false and back-dated document,” said Cunha.

According to federal prosecutors, the government is looking to forfeit 13 bank accounts, two buildings, and two cars obtained by the accused.

Cunha said the Recovery Connection Centers of America headquarters in Providence has also been seized by the FBI.