Katie Thomas
bykatiethomas.bsky.social
Katie Thomas
@bykatiethomas.bsky.social
I’m an investigative health care reporter for the New York Times. Bio: https://www.nytimes.com/by/katie-thomas

Have a tip? I’m on Signal at bykatiethomas.25, or send a secure tip here: https://www.nytimes.com/tips
This is our third investigation into practices at Acadia Healthcare, one of the country’s largest for-profit providers of mental health services.

Read our previous stories here: www.nytimes.com/2024/09/01/b...

and here: www.nytimes.com/2024/12/07/h...
How a Leading Chain of Psychiatric Hospitals Traps Patients
Acadia Healthcare is holding people against their will to maximize insurance payouts, a Times investigation found.
www.nytimes.com
April 22, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Acadia disputed our findings, saying it did not tolerate behavior that could put people in danger. Illinois's substance abuse agency said it was “deeply concerned" and would be “conducting a review to assess whether additional measures could have been taken.” www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/b...
Suicides and Rape at a Prized Mental Health Center (Gift Article)
Timberline Knolls, a mental health center owned by Acadia Healthcare, skimped on staff. Then came a series of tragedies.
www.nytimes.com
April 22, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Local police have not made an arrest in the alleged sexual assault and say the investigation is open. Authorities in Gary, Ind. -- where one of the women said she was taken -- began investigating after we asked questions. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/b...
Suicides and Rape at a Prized Mental Health Center (Gift Article)
Timberline Knolls, a mental health center owned by Acadia Healthcare, skimped on staff. Then came a series of tragedies.
www.nytimes.com
April 22, 2025 at 4:42 PM
We found that facilities like Timberline Knolls, which treated eating disorders, mental health issues and substance abuse, fell into a regulatory grey area. State regulators did not investigate the suicides, and a key agency hadn't visited the property since 2019. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/b...
Suicides and Rape at a Prized Mental Health Center
Timberline Knolls, a mental health center owned by Acadia Healthcare, skimped on staff. Then came a series of tragedies.
www.nytimes.com
April 22, 2025 at 4:42 PM
But, as we reported, dangerous conditions persisted at the facility, which closed earlier this year. Last year, two women accused a health aide of raping them, and two other women died by suicide in 2023 and 2024. Police were called more than 500 times in 2023. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/b...
Suicides and Rape at a Prized Mental Health Center
Timberline Knolls, a mental health center owned by Acadia Healthcare, skimped on staff. Then came a series of tragedies.
www.nytimes.com
April 22, 2025 at 4:42 PM
We're continuing to report on stories about health care fraud, waste and abuse. If you've seen examples, please tell us about them here: www.nytimes.com/2025/04/10/h...
Have you seen examples of health care fraud, waste or abuse? Tell us about it.
New York Times reporters are looking into cases of unnecessary and wasteful spending in government health programs.
www.nytimes.com
April 10, 2025 at 4:19 PM
The huge spending jump has led some experts to say this is a ripe target for the Trump administration. But President Trump received a large campaign donation from a leading bandage company, and has skewered on social media a Biden-era plan to restrict coverage. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/10/h...
Medicare Bleeds Billions on Pricey Bandages, and Doctors Get a Cut
Medicare spending on “skin substitutes” made of dried placenta has soared as doctors pocket lucrative discounts from sellers.
www.nytimes.com
April 10, 2025 at 4:19 PM
This story built on our reporting in September about how Acadia’s inpatient psychiatric hospitals were holding patients longer than necessary to maximize insurance payments. Read that story here. www.nytimes.com/2024/09/01/b...
How a Leading Chain of Psychiatric Hospitals Traps Patients (Gift Article)
Acadia Healthcare is holding people against their will to maximize insurance payouts, a Times investigation found.
www.nytimes.com
December 7, 2024 at 1:25 PM
Acadia has denied these claims and said only medical staff can decide who to enroll. It also said it provides robust counseling and that its policies prohibit false billing and record-keeping.
December 7, 2024 at 1:25 PM