A recent lawsuit filed in Arizona alleges that the state was aware of a scheme targeting Native Americans in sober living facilities, leading to exploitation, injuries, and deaths. The complaint claims that state leaders knew about the issue in 2019 but failed to take appropriate action. The class action lawsuit, led by lawyers John Brewer and Dane Wood, includes heartbreaking stories of individuals who suffered as a result of the alleged fraud. One individual, Mackenzie Joseph, reportedly died trying to escape a fraudulent sober living home, while another, Randy Ben, was found dead at a behavioral health residential facility that had previously been cited for violations. The lawsuit also highlights the case of Randy Honyumptewa, who was allegedly given fentanyl by a sober living staff member, causing incapacitation and severe injuries. The lawsuit accuses the state of gross negligence for allowing the sober living scheme to continue and victimize thousands of Native Americans. Both the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) have not commented on the pending litigation. This lawsuit sheds light on the sober living crisis in Arizona and the need for accountability and reform within the state’s Medicaid system to prevent further exploitation and harm to vulnerable individuals.
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