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Native families and advocates tell Arizona panel: fraudulent sober-living schemes left loved ones dead
Summary
Survivors and tribal advocates told the Senate Health and Human Services Committee that so-called sober-living homes recruited Native Americans, left some residents unattended or on streets and produced billing while care failed; witnesses urged confidentiality protections for reporters and immediate action from state agencies.
Survivors and tribal advocates told the Arizona Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Sept. 18 that fraudulent sober-living operations preyed on Native American people, produced billing to public programs while failing to provide care, and in at least one case left a man, Larry Bootsma, dead.
"This is waste, fraud, abuse, and neglect in real time," Rachel Strife, cofounder of Arizona Mad Moms, said, describing Bootsma’s treatment plan, court-ordered services and the family’s loss. She told senators that state appropriations meant for secure residential treatment were sharply cut: "A 25,000,000 appropriation turned into…
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