HARTFORD, Conn — A Glastonbury psychiatrist pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicaid of more than $1.6 million.
Between January 2017 and October 2023, prosecutors said Michael Pines, 75, of Avon, submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid for psychotherapy services that were supposedly provided to his clients.
Officials said Pines is a psychologist who owned and operated Michael B. Pines, Ph.D., P.C., located in Glastonbury. Pines provided psychotherapy to young children, adolescents, and adults, and he was enrolled individually as a Behavioral Health Clinician provider in the Connecticut Medicaid Program.
Federal prosecutors said Pines submitted claims for dates when no services had been provided to the Medicaid clients identified in the claims. Those times included when Pines was traveling, on vacation, recovering from surgery, or otherwise not working.
"He also submitted claims when an appointment had been canceled, when the claimed client was in the hospital, when he had stopped treating the claimed client, and when the claimed client had never been his client," prosecutors said in a press release. "In addition, when Pines treated multiple Medicaid clients in the same family at the same time, he billed Medicaid for the group visit as multiple individual claims, a practice that he knew was not permitted by Medicaid."
In the end, Pines defrauded Medicaid of $1,617,679, officials said.
Pines has agreed to pay full restitution. He also has agreed to forfeit several jewelry items that were seized during the investigation.
Sentencing is scheduled on May 6, at which time Pines faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Pines is released on a $250,000 bond pending sentencing.
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