A Connecticut psychologist pleaded guilty to $1.6 million in Medicaid fraud.
According to a Jan. 31 news release from the Justice Department, Michael Pines, PhD, submitted over a million dollars in false claims from his Glastonbury, Conn., practice between 2017 and 2023. Dr. Pines provided psychotherapy to children, adolescents and adults.
Dr. Pines submitted bills to Medicaid for services never provided to clients, including billing for therapy sessions on days he was traveling, on vacation and recovering from surgery, according to the Justice Department. He also submitted claims for clients when they were in the hospital or had stopped coming to his practice, and claims for patients who had never been his client.
Dr. Pines agreed to pay full restitution and gave up several jewelry items seized during the Justice Department's investigation, according to the release. He is scheduled to be sentenced May 6 and faces up to 10 years in prison.