Psychiatrist and father (also a physician) charged with defrauding Medicaid, Blue Cross; face 53 charges each

October 24, 2012

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - A psychiatrist whose Grandville office was raided by the Michigan Attorney General's office in February and her father now face 53 felonies each.

Nan Beth Alt and her father William Alt allegedly defrauded insurance carriers out of $273,000 by filing improper reimbursement claims from Medicaid, Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

The Michigan Attorney General's Office alleges William Alt was treating patients out of a Holland office despite the fact that his medical license was suspended in 2009 and that his daughter helped him by signing blank prescription forms for him, according to documents obtained via the Freedom of Information Act.

In addition to the signed prescription pads found with William Alt, there are accusations that William Alt ordered tests at area hospitals under his daughter's name, making it appear as though patients were hers rather than his.

The Attorney General's Office says that Nan Beth Alt's actions constitute negligence and "lack of good moral character," "allowing an unauthorized person to use her medical license," and "fraud or deceit in obtaining or attempting to obtain third party reimbursement," all of which violate the Public Health Code.

They each face two 10-year felonies and 51 four-year felonies in the Ingham County District Court.

William Alt was also convicted of practicing without a medical license in 2010.

Nan Beth Alt's license to practice was suspended by the state effective Sept. 6, the documents show. She is scheduled to be in court Nov. 26 after petitioning to lift the suspension.

Source: "Psychiatrist, father face fraud charges, William Alt allegedly practiced without license," WOOD 8 TV (Grand Rapids, MI), October 23, 2012.