Statewide Homeless Council Announcement:
Reports shared with the Statewide Homeless Council indicate that individuals presenting themselves as outreach workers may be approaching people experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders and offering connections to out-of-state treatment programs. Local nonprofits are concerned that outreach efforts may be a form of patient brokering — a term that describes referrals to specific clinics in exchange for illegal kickbacks or bribes.
Individuals representing these groups have been identified as actively engaging members of the homeless community with flashy brochures showing program residency in mansions, business cards with inconsistent contact information, vague program details, promises of free transportation, and everything you need to get to California or other inviting locations. During the coldest winter months, the promise of free transportation and housing in a warmer location across the country can be highly appealing, and individuals may feel understandably drawn to such offers with little encouragement. There have been reports of individuals representing out-of-state outreach efforts being seen in the Portland, Lewiston, and Bangor areas.
We encourage community partners to help raise awareness about this activity. If individuals are approached with offers of transportation or placement in out-of-state treatment programs, it may be helpful to encourage them to first connect with trusted local service providers in Maine to help verify the legitimacy and appropriateness of the referral. Local nonprofits, recovery organizations, and treatment providers can help ensure that individuals are connected to safe, licensed, and evidence-based recovery services that align with their needs.
At the same time, we want to recognize and support the many legitimate outreach teams and recovery organizations working throughout Maine who provide essential services and compassionate engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders. These local providers play a critical role in helping people navigate treatment options, access recovery supports, and connect with appropriate care. Community members are encouraged to continue collaborating with and referring individuals to these trusted local outreach efforts.
Media coverage, including reporting by the Bangor Daily News and The Philadelphia Inquirer, has highlighted broader national concerns about certain out-of-state treatment referrals and the importance of ensuring that recovery pathways are ethical, transparent, and centered on the well-being and informed choice of the individual. Article links provided below.
Sharing this information is intended to promote community awareness while reinforcing the importance of working with reputable outreach teams and service providers to ensure individuals seeking recovery services receive safe, appropriate, and supportive care.
The Statewide Homeless Council cannot verify these reports but Urges Caution!
Supporting Article Links:
Bangor Daily News article on The Rehab Specialist can be found here:
https://www.bangordailynews.com/…/bangor-maine-the…
People subjected to patient brokering in other cities say the process tends to involve luring in vulnerable people with photos of glamorous treatment centers for the chance to make a profit off of participants’ insurance policies, often failing to deliver on the caliber of treatment promised.
“Patient brokering turns vulnerable people into commodities”
The Philadelphia Inquirer article on The Rehab Specialist can be found here:
https://www.msn.com/…/recruiters-flew…/ar-AA1T5wJS
“Some referral and marketing services in the addiction treatment industry are legal. But the business is also notoriously rife with insurance fraud and patient brokering — a term that describes referrals to specific clinics in exchange for illegal kickbacks or bribes.”
FBI involvement has now been confirmed:
https://www.foxbangor.com/…/article_78f5abc5-53f1-44b0…
Please report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement or the Maine Attorney General’s Office.
- Email:
- Phone: 207-626-8800