Hannah Bassett
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hannahbassett.bsky.social
Hannah Bassett
@hannahbassett.bsky.social
✍🏻 writer, enterprise legislative coverage for Seven Days, an award-winning alt-weekly in Burlington, VT
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NEW: At least 40 Native American residents of sober living homes and treatment facilities in the Phoenix area died as AZ officials fumbled their response to Medicaid fraud targeting Indigenous people.

By me and @maryhudetz.bsky.social for @azcir.org / @propublica.org
azcir.org/news/2025/01...
Dozens died in sober living homes as Arizona fumbled fraud response
Arizona officials acknowledged that a fraud scheme targeting Indigenous people with addictions cost taxpayers $2.5 billion, but haven't accounted publicly for the deaths tied to the scheme.
azcir.org
Reposted by Hannah Bassett
Arizona has so far indicted more than 100 individuals involved in the Medicaid fraud scheme and recouped $125 million — just 5% of the funds the state estimates it paid to bad actors.

By @jasminedemers.bsky.social, with @azcir.org
Arizona Has Recovered Just 5% of Taxpayer Dollars Lost in a $2.5 Billion Medicaid Fraud Scheme
The state has so far indicted more than 100 individuals and recouped $125 million. But despite state and federal efforts, it’s likely that most of the stolen taxpayer money won’t be recovered,…
www.propublica.org
May 11, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Major developments recently to Arizona's Medicaid agency, several closely tied to my reporting with @azcir.org & @propublica.org on the devastating fraud scheme that left many patients—disproportionately Native American—without access to drug and alcohol treatment.

🧵A quick recap and round-up
May 6, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Impact from my reporting with Mary Hudetz for @azcir.org and @propublica.org, and the ongoing work of so many to push for increased accountability and oversight ⤵️
In January, AZCIR and @propublica.org reported on how former Arizona Medicaid officials had failed for years to stem a $2 billion fraud scheme targeting Native Americans, despite repeated warnings. A new law aims to add oversight. azcir.org/news/2025/04...
New law increases oversight of Arizona sober living homes
The legislation follows an AZCIR and ProPublica investigation on a $2 billion Medicaid fraud scheme that targeted Native Americans seeking drug and alcohol treatment.
azcir.org
April 23, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Reposted by Hannah Bassett
🚨IMPACT alert: A new Arizona law increases oversight of sober living homes. The legislation follows a @propublica.org and @azcir.org investigation on a $2 billion Medicaid fraud scheme that targeted Native Americans seeking drug and alcohol treatment. @maryhudetz.bsky.social
New Law Increases Oversight of Arizona Sober Living Homes
The legislation follows a ProPublica and Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting investigation on a $2 billion Medicaid fraud scheme that targeted Native Americans seeking drug and alcohol treatmen...
www.propublica.org
April 22, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Reposted by Hannah Bassett
At least 40 Native residents of Phoenix-area sober living and treatment facilities died between spring 2022 and summer 2024, amid a Medicaid fraud crisis. Most of their families have received little explanation of how loved ones were preyed on. Via @maryhudetz.bsky.social @hannahbassett.bsky.social
Dozens of People Died in Arizona Sober Living Homes as State Officials Fumbled Medicaid Fraud Response
Arizona officials acknowledged that a fraud scheme targeting Indigenous people with addictions cost taxpayers $2.5 billion. But they haven’t accounted publicly for the number of deaths tied to the sch...
www.propublica.org
January 28, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Reposted by Hannah Bassett
New from @propublica.org: At least 40 Native residents of Phoenix-area sober living homes and treatment facilities died between the spring of 2022 and summer of 2024, amid a Medicaid fraud crisis.

@maryhudetz.bsky.social @hannahbassett.bsky.social, photography by @adrianazehbrauskas.bsky.social
Dozens of People Died in Arizona Sober Living Homes as State Officials Fumbled Medicaid Fraud Response
Arizona officials acknowledged that a fraud scheme targeting Indigenous people with addictions cost taxpayers $2.5 billion. But they haven’t accounted publicly for the number of deaths tied to the sch...
www.propublica.org
January 27, 2025 at 4:47 PM
NEW: At least 40 Native American residents of sober living homes and treatment facilities in the Phoenix area died as AZ officials fumbled their response to Medicaid fraud targeting Indigenous people.

By me and @maryhudetz.bsky.social for @azcir.org / @propublica.org
azcir.org/news/2025/01...
Dozens died in sober living homes as Arizona fumbled fraud response
Arizona officials acknowledged that a fraud scheme targeting Indigenous people with addictions cost taxpayers $2.5 billion, but haven't accounted publicly for the deaths tied to the scheme.
azcir.org
January 27, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Reposted by Hannah Bassett
NEW: Dozens of Native American residents of sober living homes and addiction recovery facilities in Arizona died as state Medicaid officials struggled to respond to a massive fraud scheme that targeted Indigenous people.

By @maryhudetz.bsky.social & @azcir.org's @hannahbassett.bsky.social
Dozens of People Died in Arizona Sober Living Homes as State Officials Fumbled Medicaid Fraud Response
Arizona officials acknowledged that a fraud scheme targeting Indigenous people with addictions cost taxpayers $2.5 billion. But they haven’t accounted publicly for the number of deaths tied to the…
propub.li
January 27, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Reposted by Hannah Bassett
It's #GivingTuesday, or what we call #GivingNewsDay, and we have a goal to raise $5,000 in direct support of our investigative reporting. Thanks to local and national donors, each gift is double-matched!

azcir.fundjournalism.org/newsmatch-20...
Join | Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting is supported by people like you. Support Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting today.
azcir.fundjournalism.org
December 3, 2024 at 4:45 PM
📻Tune in! At 11am MT, I'll be joining Native America Calling to discuss what my reporting with @propublica.org's @maryhudetz.bsky.social and @azcir.bsky.social has uncovered in the wake of Arizona's sober living home crisis. www.nativeamericacalling.com/thursday-nov...
Thursday, November 21, 2024 – Substance abuse treatment remains elusive for hundreds of people after Arizona Medicaid fraud » Native America Calling
More than a year after Arizona cracked down on fake substance abuse treatment facilities following a $2.5 billion Medicaid fraud scam, hundreds of people can’t find adequate treatment. The scam swept ...
www.nativeamericacalling.com
November 21, 2024 at 5:38 PM
🚨NEW: Arizona cracked down on Medicaid fraud that targeted Native Americans. It left patients without care.
My latest, a collaboration between
@azcir.bsky.social & @propublica.bsky.social's Mary Hudetz. 📸Photos by Adriana Zehbrauskas
azcir.org/news/2024/09...
Arizona’s medicaid fraud crackdown hurt Native American patients
Arizona suspended scores of behavioral health providers as authorities investigated them for defrauding the American Indian Health Program. The state’s actions left patients homeless and without treat...
azcir.org
September 10, 2024 at 4:33 PM
Today marks one year since AZ officials announced a sweeping investigation into widespread Medicaid fraud. Much more information has come to light since then. A brief recap of the scandal and @azcir.bsky.social's coverage (1/8)
May 17, 2024 at 7:28 PM
As a nonprofit newsroom, our work depends on the generosity of people who believe in the power and value of accountability journalism.

Please consider donating to support this work. Every little bit helps--and today your contribution will be doubled up to $1000, thanks to local philanthropists!
At @azcir.bsky.social, we believe in accountability journalism that betters Arizona communities. On this #GivingTuesday, or what we call #GivingNewsDay, please consider supporting AZCIR—news for people, not for profit: azcir.fundjournalism.org/newsmatch-20...
November 28, 2023 at 8:45 PM
NEW: Patients, advocates & providers detail how AZ officials’ efforts to mitigate Medicaid fraud & the ‘humanitarian crisis’ it had created have fallen short on both fronts.

My first with @azcir.bsky.social, by @mpolletta.bsky.social and me: azcir.org/news/2023/11...
State response to medicaid fraud creates ‘pure chaos’ for patients
Arizona's failure to anticipate the impact of suspensions among behavioral health providers suspected of medicare fraud put patients at risk of further harm.
azcir.org
November 2, 2023 at 9:30 PM