Missouri psychologist Rhett McCarty gets prison for fraud

February 4, 2013

A 67-year-old central Missouri psychologist has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for fraud.

The Jefferson City News Tribune reports that Rhett E. McCarty of Lake Ozark was sentenced Wednesday to three years without parole for defrauding Medicare and Medicaid of $1 million.

McCarty, who also has to pay $1 million in restitution, pleaded guilty to health care fraud and forgery in August 2012.

McCarty was a licensed psychologist in private practice who treated Medicare and Medicaid recipients in their homes in the Lebanon area. Prosecutors say that from 2008 to April 2012, he was paid nearly $1.3 million from the programs after claiming he treated 19 patients almost daily.

He also admitted that signatures of five patients were forged.

Source: "Lake Ozark psychologist sentenced on fraud charge," News Tribune, January 31, 2013.