Psychologist Rodney Hesson convicted of Medicaid fruad

April 16, 2012

PICAYUNE, MISSISSIPPI — Former Picayune psychologist 42-year-old Rodney D. Hesson pleaded guilty to three felony counts of Medicaid fraud on Friday.

According to a release from Attorney General Jim Hood’s office, Hesson is from Slidell but was operating an office in Picayune and has a Poplarville residence. Hesson threw himself on the mercy of Circuit Court Judge Anthony Mozingo by entering an open plea.

Hesson pleaded guilty by entering the open plea to three of 11 counts of Medicaid fraud and could face up to five years in Mississippi of Department of Corrections’ custody and fines of up to $50,000 on each of the three counts, the release states.

The investigation against Hesson shows he would meet with children between the ages of 6 and 16 just once for psychological counseling and evaluation sessions, but would bill Medicaid for multiple visits. A Pearl River County grand jury had indicted Hesson for 11 counts of fraudulently billing Medicaid, which was done from his Picayune business.

Hesson’s Picayune business closed in November of 2008, but he still operates a practice in Louisiana, the release states.

Mozingo accepted Hesson’s open plea on Friday, which placed him at the mercy of the court. After a pre-sentence investigation is conducted, Mozingo will determine Hesson’s punishment on April 20, the release states.

Charges against Hesson were pressed after the Department of Medicaid reported his actions to the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, according to the release.

Source: "Picayune psychologist pleads guilty to fraud," The Picayune Item, April 14, 2012.