A prominent psychiatrist in Arkansas is currently facing investigation for allegedly participating in a massive Medicaid fraud scheme, falsely holding numerous individuals against their will.

Video evidence has surfaced, showing Dr. Brian Hyatt touring hospital hallways without spending any time with patients.

Both state and federal authorities are looking into the matter, while 26 patients have filed lawsuits against Dr. Hyatt, claiming they were unlawfully detained for extended periods.

Some patients had to seek court orders to be freed, with sheriff’s deputies involved in their release, the New York Post has reported.

The officer’s bodycam captured one individual expressing immense gratitude for being liberated, stating, “Oh my gosh. You saved my life.”

Shannon Williams, a mother of three and a nurse herself, recounted her harrowing experience of being held for five days despite denying any suicidal tendencies and pleading for her release.

She described the conditions as prison-like and claimed that Dr. Hyatt barely interacted with the patients during their confinement.

Crying or protesting only led to threats of more time in detention, leaving her terrified.

In May, Dr. Hyatt resigned as chairman of the Arkansas State Medical Board after DEA agents conducted a search at his private practice.

Additionally, he was abruptly terminated from his role as medical director of the behavioral health unit at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale, where he had significantly increased the number of beds.

Earlier, the hospital had agreed to pay $1.1 million in a settlement with the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office for inadequate documentation supporting the hospitalization of 246 patients.

The Attorney General’s Office, under Tim Griffin, has accused Dr. Hyatt of running an insurance scam.

It is alleged that he claimed to treat patients he rarely saw and then overbilled Medicaid by using the highest severity codes for each patient.

Written by staff