GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Division of Health Service Regulation slapped another local substance abuse agency with thousands of dollars in penalties - and told the agency, the state would be revoking its license after finding several serious violations.
In the 60-page Statement of Deficiencies, the state found the president and clinical director of United Youth Care Services, Inc., "oversaw and paid for substandard housing in various locations" and "orchestrated an elaborate system of using clients with mental health and substance abuse diagnoses, to make their housing contingent on the facility obtaining Medicaid reimbursements for treatment services that were not properly documented, falsified or not provided."
The state also alleges that "multiple clients reported they were instructed to lie about drug use to ensure their continued access to housing services" and "facility staff confirmed client reports of false urine tests and inaccurate assessments."
The Division of Health Service Regulation sent letters dated September 12 to Sandra A. Grace, the clinical director for the agency, explaining the state intends to revoke the license, to fine the agency $6,000, and has suspended all admissions to the facility.
Several clients and former clients reported to the state that they never received treatment for any of their diagnoses.
Interviews with other former staff members revealed the agency would "just force clients out" of housing if they didn't attend treatment classes, or if they lost Medicaid.
According to the report, another client told the state "staff were employed by United Youth Care Services, Inc. to recruit possible homeless people and drug addicts who had Medicaid."
A former staff member who allegedly did this for the agency told interviewers she found potential clients "at the Department of Social Services, bus stops, while riding public buses, parks, at the courthouses, and any other public place she thought people with Medicaid may be."
A former staff member told the state in an email that "this place is evil and is the opposite of mental health. Clients who are seeking help and wanting better for their lives...are treated poorly, and the facility will...use housing as a pawn."
WFMY News 2 reached out to United Youth Care Services directly. The agency wrote back "no comment."
FULL COPY OF THE REPORT:
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