Comprehensive reforms passed in wake of recovery program scandal [Video]

ST PAUL, Minn. — Amid the well-publicized chaos in the final days of the Minnesota legislative session, there was an area of consensus.

Lawmakers overwhelmingly approved reforms aimed at cracking down on the way addiction recovery programs bill for so-called “peer services” – where people in recovery are paid to help mentor others battling addiction.

“We had to do something,” said Representative Heather Edelson (DFL-Edina), reflecting on the legislative votes that came in the wake of KARE 11’s year-long “Recovery, Inc.” investigation.

In a series of reports, KARE 11 exposed allegations that taxpayers were being overbilled by a company called Kyros and its nonprofit partner Refocus Recovery.

Although Kyros and Refocus denied any deliberate wrongdoing, KARE 11’s reporting uncovered taxpayer-funded movie nights, contests to increase Medicaid billing, and allegations that taxpayers were billed for addiction recovery services never provided.

Key …