In a court order filed Dec. 31, the Delaware Department of Justice asked for the names and addresses of Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program recipients who may have been victims of Lewes pediatrician Dr. Earl Bradley.
The department sought the court order from the Department of Health and Social Services because Bradley treated patients who were enrolled in medical assistance programs. Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are programs created by the federal government but administered by the Department of Health and Social Services.
The Department of Justice said it believes Bradley began treating Medicaid and CHIP recipients in 1997. The court order said the need for the information outweighs the harm that could be caused by the disclosing the names of patients to the Justice Department. Some former Bradley patients said he may have targeted poorer families.
Attorney General Joseph “Beau” Biden III said the Department of Health and Social Services has been cooperative in providing the information; however, a court order was the only legal way the Justice Department could get the names of Bradley patients enrolled in medical assistance programs.
Jason Miller, spokesman for the Department of Justice, confirmed that, over time, Bradley had seen over 1,000 patients.
Bradley faces possible life imprisonment on over 30 counts of rape and exploitation of young children. After Bradley waived a preliminary hearing Thursday, Jan. 14, the Attorney General’s Office will next seek an indictment from a grand jury. No timetable has been set for when Bradley would be indicted.
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