Kathryn Wellman: Intensive Recovery Services: Therapeutic Strategies
Kathryn Wellman - Intensive Recovery Services - Therapeutic Strategies Kathryn Wellman Fraud

Imagine in these troubled economic times if your boss just stopped paying you for months.

It's happening to workers right here in the Triangle and it's beinginvestigated by the state and by Troubleshooter Diane Wilson.

Several former Therapeutic Strategies employees came to TroubleshooterDiane Wilson after not getting their pay checks and not just for onepay period but several.

Former Therapeutic Strategies ProgramDirector Miquel Ramirez says he's out $12,000. He tells TroubleshooterDiane Wilson, "Right now my house is in foreclosure. I haven't beenable to pay." Mom-to-be Broni Ademski's also missing money. Sheadds, "I'm owed about $6,000 to $7,000" Latezes Bridges-Watkins saysshe's out more than $7,000. She says, "You're steadily getting behind, spiraling downward, needing more money to stay afloat. So it's horribleas it affects every aspect of your life." Therapeutic Strategiesis a community support agency that's part of the state's mental healthreform. It helps those with mental illness or substance abuse problemsget help.

Now, former Therapeutic employees may have to relyon public assistance. Broni adds, "Having to look into going to a foodbank, go to churches, wondering if my lights get cut off. What am Igoing to do?"

The owner of Therapeutic Strategies is KathrynWellman. She lives in a gated community, drives a luxury Mercedes, andeven had enough spare change to donate thousands to politicalcandidates recently. Kathryn Wellman seems well-off.

Miquelsays, " She's a politician. She likes that lifestyle. People that lookat her at say wow." But these former Wellman employees stopped beingwowed a long time ago as they say she owes them back pay from June.

These former employees came to Troubleshooter Diane Wilson and shecaught up with Kathryn Wellman outside her Garner office. Wellmandidn't want to talk on camera but did invite her into her office totalk off-camera.

Wellman admitted she hasn't paid past, evenpresent, employees for months because she just doesn't have the money. She told Troubleshooter Diane Wilson she's trying to rebuild and getloans to pay back-salary, back-rent on the office, and personal bills.

Butbefore she can do any of that that she has to pay-back Medicaid forbilling overcharges.in the summer of the state orderedTherapeutic Strategies to reimburse $111,743.74.

According tothe Department of Health and Human Services, the payback was because ofthe 33 community support clients Therapeutic Strategies had the statefound 11 weren't clinically necessary.

Also, the state foundthat 32 of the 33 cases weren't appropriate in duration and intensity. Wellman blames the Medicaid problems on former staffers from 2007taking bad notes and not doing their jobs right.

As forMiquel, Broni and Latezes they say Wellman should stop making excusesand start making payments. Latezes adds, "You as a business owner haveto accept responsibility for your own business."

The NCDepartment of Labor is also investigating Kathryn Wellman. They've evenput in writing to those former employees that they're confident they'llget the back pay from Wellman but so far, nothing.

As forWellman, she admits she owes the Department of Labor claims, and saysshe's working with the state on that. She does disputes how much sheowes each former employee. She says the credit crunch is keeping herfrom getting the loans she needs to pay them. She also says she'slooking for a buyer, or investors for the company.

Company: Kathryn Wellman: Intensive Recovery Services: Therapeutic Strategies
Country: USA
Address: 1st st

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