Local officials are cracking down on corruption in Palm Beach County's sober-home industry.
The Palm Beach Post reported Monday that eight owners of sober-homes and substance-abuse treatment facilities face multiple charges of “patient brokering.”
The practice of patient brokering involves treatment facilities paying kickbacks to sober-home operators in exchange for sending patients with health insurance to their treatment programs.
Florida law prohibits treatment facilities from paying anyone for new patients.
The newspaper reports that the practice is so widespread that many in the industry don't realize it's illegal.
A task force created by State Attorney David Aronberg has been investigating corruption in the drug treatment industry in Palm Beach County.
Aronberg says there will be more arrests.
