Brown makes the third top official to leave from ARC within a month

By Roberta Cantrell

BSN Editor

A leadership change was announced in a press release from Vanessa Keeton, Vice President of Marketing, Addiction Recovery Care ARC after Matt Brown said he is departing from his role of Chief Administration Officer and President of ARC Healthcare.

Brown, who says his last day is Friday, Feb. 28, has worked at ARC for more than a decade after he sought treatment as a patient in ARC’s facility in 2014.

Brown is leaving amid an FBI investigation of possible health care fraud and major personnel and program cuts but said his departure is not related to the pending federal probe of ARC, which gets nearly all its revenue from Medicaid, the federal-state health plan that funds addiction services.

“It had absolutely nothing to do with my decision,” Brown said.

Chief Operating Officer Pat Fogerty and Senior Vice President of Medical Services Paige Ross, two other top-level administrators have also exited their roles within the past three weeks.

It was also announced in the press release by Keeton that Lawrence Vinson, formerly ARC’s chief of staff, will fill in the gaps left by all three executives, acting as Chief Operating and Nursing Officer.

Vinson will oversee all aspects of care delivery, including medical, clinical, case management, pharmacy, lab, residential and outpatient operations.

“It is my commitment to lead by example and support our team members in delivering exceptional care,” said Vinson. “I am eager to explore innovative ideas and methodologies that will enhance our services and ensure that we remain at the cutting edge of addiction recovery and behavioral health care.”

Tim Robinson CEO of ARC expressed his heartfelt support for Brown’s decision saying his leadership has had a profound impact on ARC. “I do not doubt that the next phase of his journey will be just as impactful,” said Robinson.

“ARC has been an integral part of my life and my journey,” said Brown. “This ministry helped connect me to God, restored my family, and gave me a life I never imagined. It’s with a heart full of gratitude and hope for the future that I step into this new chapter of my professional and personal journey.”

On a dimmer side, on August 24, 2024, even after ARC was being touted on as the leading contributor of treatment with its “crisis to career” model of recovery the FBI announced it was investigating ARC for potential fraud.

The FBI asked former employees, current employees and patients who have been victimized by ARC to submit an online questionnaire and as of January 24, have received just over 600 responses.

Five months later citing medical reimbursement cuts, ARC has closed more than 10 facilities and four rounds of layoffs.

However, Robinson says ARC remains focused on its mission to serve individuals on their recovery journeys creating life-changing opportunities for those in need.