WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. (WFLA) — The mental health chain at the center of an 8 On Your Side investigation agreed to pay close to $20 million in fines.
Federal prosecutors reached the deal with Acadia Healthcare over allegations that the company submitted false claims to Medicaid, Medicare, and TRICARE.
TIMELINE: When a tropical threat could impact the Tampa Bay area
Former patients and employees said people were held against their will at Acadia facilities, including one in Pasco County. They claimed the motive wasn’t patient care, but profits. So will this fine bring about change?
William Crowell said he was held against his will for ten days at North Tampa Behavioral Health Hospital in Wesley Chapel. The company that owns the hospital now has to pay $19.85 million settlement, but Crowell said it’s definitely not enough for his mental anguish that he endured.
Crowell said he came to the Pasco County hospital in a moment of crisis but claimed that the company that owned it had something else in mind.