Doctor from Arkansas Medical Board Arrested for Alleged Medicaid Fraud

Former head of the Arkansas Medical Board, psychiatrist Dr. Brian Hyatt, is now under arrest due to accusations of Medicaid fraud. According to information acquired by NBC News, while Dr. Hyatt was in charge of the locked behavioral unit at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale, he reportedly submitted high-cost billings to Medicaid. However, investigative findings suggest he was hardly ever at the said location. 

Post his arrest, the Arkansas Attorney General, Tim Griffin, mentioned that a bail hearing for Dr. Hyatt is scheduled in Pulaski County in the coming weeks. It’s worth noting that Dr. Hyatt is also facing allegations from over 40 past patients, who claim they were held against their will under his supervision between February 2018 and May 2022. 

His professional ties with the hospital were abruptly cut off in May 2022 amidst the surfacing of these fraud allegations. By March, he had relinquished his chairmanship of the State Medical Board and by May, he had exited the board completely. Documents suggest Dr. Hyatt might have billed Medicaid for services he didn’t render.

An anonymous tipster indicated to the attorney general’s office that Dr. Hyatt rarely interacted with patients and even avoided disclosing his identity to them. Aaron Cash, a legal representative for many who have filed suits against Dr. Hyatt, expressed appreciation for the efforts of Attorney General Tim Griffin and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in pursuing justice. 

While attempts to reach Dr. Hyatt’s civil attorney went unanswered, another lawyer had previously defended Dr. Hyatt in August, stating that he denies all allegations and is prepared to uphold his honor in a court of law. When Dr. Hyatt started managing the unit in 2018, it had a capacity of 29 beds, which he later expanded to 77.

Contrary to his claims of routinely monitoring all patients, video evidence from the attorney general’s office showed Dr. Hyatt predominantly stayed in his office and had minimal patient interactions. In a recent settlement, the hospital consented to return $1.1 million to the attorney general’s office.

Furthermore, ongoing probes into Dr. Hyatt are being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas and the Health and Human Services Inspector General’s Office. In a significant development, his office premises were searched by the Drug Enforcement Administration agents this past May. 

Journal Reference  

Arrest warrant issued for Psychiatrist who once ran Arkansas state medical board. (2023). Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/arrest-warrant-psychiatrist-arkansas-medical-board-medicaid-fraud-rcna119610