Public Radio East serves Eastern North Carolina by providing news, fine arts, and informational programming that challenges, stimulates, educates, and entertains an intellectually curious audience.

© 2026 Public Radio East

Public Radio East
800 College Court
New Bern, NC 28562

EIN 56-1802728
Public Radio For Eastern North Carolina 89.3 WTEB New Bern 88.5 WZNB New Bern 91.5 WBJD Atlantic Beach 90.3 WKNS Kinston 89.9 W210CF Greenville
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

NC behavioral health practice to pay $1.9 million to settle Medicare fraud claims

A civil suit filed by the Justice Department this week links exaggerated patient bills to tens of millions of dollars in overcharges by Medicare Advantage plans. A data analytics team facilitated the fraud, the lawsuit alleges.
A civil suit filed by the Justice Department this week links exaggerated patient bills to tens of millions of dollars in overcharges by Medicare Advantage plans. A data analytics team facilitated the fraud, the lawsuit alleges.

North Carolina's largest behavioral health practice has agreed to pay $1.9 million to the United States to resolve allegations of submitting false Medicare claims for psychotherapy and related services.

U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle said the settlement with Mindpath Care Centers honors a commitment to protect taxpayer money and to guard the integrity of vital health care programs.

An investigation began after a whistleblower alerted the government; between 2018 to 2020, prosecutors said Mindpath billed Medicare without providing documentation of separate and distinct psychotherapy treatments, failed to correct problems repeatedly raised by Mindpath employees, and demonstrated a pattern of reckless disregard or deliberate ignorance toward concerns about billing fraud … while being “primarily focused on generating income.”

The organization is headquartered in Raleigh, but also operates practices in Greenville and Cary.

Annette is an award-winning journalist based in Eastern North Carolina. Her career includes professional stops across the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and Southeast, recently culminating in a 2026 Region 8 Edward R. Murrow Award for Small Market Radio Best News Series for her work on the Camp Lejeune Justice Act Series. Guided by a passion for human-interest storytelling, she focuses on narratives that touch hearts and connect communities. A mother of four and grandmother of two, Annette enjoys reading and creating epic Halloween costumes in her spare time. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.