One Plaintiff, Attorney Speak Out on AHF Kickback Case

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—One of the three former managers for AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) who have filed federal and state complaints against the organization for engaging in a wide-ranging illegal kickback scheme, along with the lead counsel for the plaintiffs, spoke to HIV-positive blogger Mark S. King about the case in a piece posted today.

Jack Carrel, one-time director of public affairs for AHF's Southern Bureau, told King about his displeasure while he was in the post with the organization's "Linkage to Care" practices that are mentioned in the suit.

"I tried to do something about it and I wasn't able to," Carrel said. "I'm HIV positive and I work in this field. I want people to be in care and to achieve viral suppression. But this system didn't give clients the choice for getting services where they wanted."

Attorney Theodore Leopold, who's representing Carrel, Maricio Ferrer and Shawn Loftis in the case, explained to King, "This case is about AHF gaming the system. ... We are seeking monetary recovery on behalf of the government for funds."

Leopold also noted that the type of practices of which AHF is accused of perpetrating "can lead to an over-ultilization of services, corrupt the process, and exploit the population most in need of services."

King also spoke with HIV activists Sue Crumpton, Eric Paul Leue, Peter Staley and Michael Petrelis for the piece. Read it in full here.