Psychiatrist Brian Hyatt, MD, chair of the Arkansas State Medical Board, resigned after the state's Medicaid inspector general found "credible allegations of fraud," the Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported March 3.
"Dr. Hyatt is a clear outlier, and his claims are so high they skew the averages on certain codes for the entire Medicaid program in Arkansas," according to a letter from the state Medicaid IG's office. He allegedly billed more Medicaid patients at the 99233 code than any other doctor billed for all of their Medicaid patients between January 2019 and June 30, 2022,the report said.
Dr. Hyatt is suspended from the Medicaid program and has 30 days to appeal. He stepped down from the medical board March 2, and Rhys Branman, MD, is serving as the interim chairman until an election to fill the seat is held in April, the report said.
Dr. Hyatt has not been charged with a crime. The medical board said the investigation into the allegations is ongoing, the report said.
He was appointed to the board in 2019 and was later elected chairman.