State Says Drug Treatment Center Illegally Charged Hundreds

SALEM (AP) — Attorney General Maura Healey says a North Andover-based drug treatment center illegally charged patients hundreds of dollars in cash for opiate addiction treatments the state's low income health program covers.

Healey said a civil complaint was filed Wednesday in superior court in Salem against the Center for Psychiatric Medicine.

She said beginning in 2010, CPM told new patients the MassHealth program didn't cover treatment using the anti-addiction drug Suboxone. Patients allegedly were told they could avoid required weekly therapy sessions by paying cash.

Healey said CPM charged cash fees as high as $325 for an initial visit and as much as $200 for follow-ups. MassHealth would have paid the center between $15 and $75. Healey said providers are required to accept only MassHealth payments for those enrolled.

The company didn't respond to a telephone message seeking comment.