Tennesse psychologist Lorne Semrau convicted of $3 milliion in Medicaid fraud, faces up to 10 years in prison

June 29, 2010

A Jackson psychologist could face up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced Sept. 9 after a federal jury convicted him this month of three counts of submitting false and fraudulent claims to defraud health care benefits programs such as Medicare and Medicaid in Tennessee and Mississippi.

Lorne Allan Semrau, 64, was convicted June 17 after a three-week trial before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Jon P. McCalla in Jackson, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Lawrence Laurenzi.

Semrau was indicted in June 2007. At that time, he was owner, president and CEO of Superior Life Care Services and Foundation Life Care Services.

According to the indictment, Semrau contracted with nursing homes in Tennessee and Mississippi to provide medication and mental health services and then contracted with psychiatrists to perform the services. He implemented a billing scheme to defraud Medicare, Medicaid and others by submitting claims for services that were not provided and claims he knew to be false.

Between 1999 and 2005, Semrau submitted fraudulent billings in excess of $3 million, the indictment says.

Source: "Psychologist convicted of false billings," The Jackson Sun, June 29, 2010.

IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT A PSYCHIATRIST, PSYCHOLOGIST, MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY OR ITS EMPLOYEES COMMITTING FRAUD, YOU CAN REPORT IT TO CITIZENS COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, WHO CAN ASSIST YOU IN FILING REPORTS, COMPLAINTS, ETC.  PLEASE CONTACT STEVE WAGNER, DIRECTOR OF LITIGATION AT [email protected]