Tennessee psychoanalyst charged with fraud

May 14, 2013

Jenny Lynn Hall, formerly known as Jenny Lynn Unterstein, 37, of Smithville, Tenn., was charged with health care fraud in a one-count criminal information filed today in  U.S. District Court, announced David Rivera, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.

Hall was a licensed and board-certified behavioral analyst with a Ph.D. in applied behavioral analysis and provided services to individuals with mental, behavioral or developmental disabilities.  According to the information, Hall created false documents and forged signatures in 2009 and 2010 to obtain payment for behavioral analysis services that she never provided.  As a result of this fraud, TennCare, the Tennessee Medicaid program, was billed for more than 115 behavioral analysis sessions that never occurred.

“Rooting out and prosecuting health care fraud is and will continue to be a major priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Acting United States Attorney David Rivera.  “Often, healthcare fraud is accomplished at the expense of vulnerable patients who are denied the services they deserve.  Health care providers who engage in fraudulent activity, especially those serving vulnerable populations, will be held accountable.”

If convicted, Hall faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, as well as forfeiture of proceeds derived from the fraud.  

This investigation is being conducted by agents of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William F. Abely.

An information is merely a charge and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: "Behavioral analyst charged with health care fraud, press release of U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, May 7 2013.