North Carolina is learning that many private companies hired to deliver mental health community support services have dubious practices including preying on the poor, charging excessive fees, and at least $4.2 million in questionable Medicaid charges.
The North Carolina News Observer reports that during one three-month period in 2006, “277 companies received taxpayer money to provide community support.” One of them, Dominion Healthcare Services, charged $61 an hour to take clients to charities for free clothes. Aggressive canvassing techniques in poor communities have been described for the company with 1,000 employees. For its work, Dominion Healthcare Services was paid $33.9 million.
This is not what Gov. Mike Easley intended when he expanded mental health community services in 2006, said a spokesperson.
