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.

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.

“It’s a place where you could bill someone if they’re insured, and that’s all that they’re interested in doing,” he said.

In August of 2021, Crowell said he was going through a tough time, so he called the national suicide hotline. Pasco County deputies showed up at his door, and citing Florida’s baker act, they brought him to North Tampa Behavioral Health in Wesley Chapel.

“I wanted to be released after the 72-hours,” Crowell said. “I found that very difficult to do. I was told by staff if I were to consult an attorney that they would extend my stay another three days.”

Crowell said his insurance company was ultimately billed more than $20,000 and claimed he was kept long after his crisis had passed.

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8 on Your Side

“I really feel like they need to be shut down permanently,” Crowell said.

It’s not the first time that Acadia Healthcare, which owns North Tampa Behavioral and more than 50 other psychiatric hospitals nationwide, has faced accusations of keeping patients longer than medically necessary.

The U.S. Department of Justice alleged that Acadia knowingly submitted false claims for payment to Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare between 2014 and 2017. Prosecutors said Acadia “admitted beneficiaries who were not eligible for inpatient treatment and failed to properly discharge beneficiaries when they no longer needed inpatient treatment and had improper and excessive lengths of stay.”

The DOJ also said, “Acadia knowingly failed to provide adequate staffing, training and/or supervision of staff, which resulted in assaults, elopements, suicides and other harm resulting from these staffing failures.”

Under the settlement agreement, Acadia will pay $16,663,918 to the United States to resolve its liability under the False Claims Act for its allegedly false Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE billings. The DOJ said Acadia will pay an additional $3,186,082 to Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Nevada to resolve their state law claims against Acadia.

“Federal health care programs rely upon the honesty and credibility of participating providers,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “The Justice Department will hold accountable those who seek to exploit these programs for personal gain, jeopardizing the health of patients.”

8 On Your Side Investigator Brittany Muller asked Crowell if he believes that is enough? “I don’t think so,” he responded. “There’s just too many loopholes that they can take advantage of people there to keep insured people there.”

We asked Acadia Healthcare about the allegations against them and the settlement. A spokesperson told 8 On Your Side the company has been cooperating with the government since it was brought to their attention in 2017.

“The agreement includes no admission of wrongdoing or liability and resolves historical matters which allows us to ensure our focus remains on providing quality care to our patients and their families,” Acadia spokesperson Tim Blair said.

Crowell said people in crisis may be better off going somewhere else for help.

“It makes me very reluctant the next time that I want to reach out for help,” Crowell said. “You’re better off to seek a church, or a synagogue to help you instead of going to an actual facility.”

You can report tips of potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement to Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

8 On Your Side asked the DOJ and the FBI if they are investigating outside the allegations made in the three years of 2014-2017.  They declined to comment, but Acadia said yes. Acadia released an 8-K last Friday, as well as press release regarding an unrelated government investigation .

“Ensuring we provide the highest quality of care is personal for me and the number one priority for my colleagues across the Company,” Acadia Chief Executive Officer Chris Hunter said. “We’re committed to taking action on incidents that fall short of our rigorous standards and are making investments necessary to establish Acadia as the leading behavioral healthcare provider for high-acuity and complex needs patients.”

The former employees and patients 8 On Your Side has spoken with say what the company really needs to do is let Acadia’s mental health clinicians call the shots when it comes to patient care.

If you have had an experience with North Tampa Behavioral Health Hospital or another Acadia facility that you want to share, email Investigator Brittany Muller at bmuller@wfla.com . She would like to hear from you.

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