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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio)— The Attorney General's office announced the indictment of two men Friday for allegedly scamming victims of substance abuse by conducting an illegal treatment and recovery scheme.
Suffolk Statewide Grand Jury indicted Michael Hislop, 56, and Timothy Hirsch, 38, on nine counts each of larceny over $250 and filing a false healthcare application as well as four counts each of conspiracy. The pair is accused of preying on people with substance abuse disorder by signing them up for fake insurance policies to make a profit and sending them to treatment facilities in Florida.
An investigation found that Hislop, a native of Dorchester, worked with addiction treatment facilities in Florida and was paid commission to recruit people at substance abuse disorder meetings. He worked alongside Hirsch, an insurance agent, who would write out fake insurance policies for the patients.
Two insurance companies, Minuteman Health and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, paid around $730,000 in false insurance claims due to the scheme.
After issuing the policies, Hislop would pay for the patient to be flown to Florida and was in charge of paying for the premiums while the patients were in treatment. Hislop failed to pay many of the premiums, which resulted in patients being rushed through treatment or kicked out of the programs.
The report said that while some patients completed treatment and returned home, others relapsed and were stranded in Florida with no way home.
As a part of the scheme, Hislop would allegedly provide a former out-of-state address to get around rules for getting an insurance policy outside of the open enrollment period. Victims of the scam reportedly said they had never seen or signed up for these policies and did not change addresses.
WBZ's Shari Small (@ShariSmallNews) has the story.
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