A prominent psychiatrist from Arkansas, Dr. Brian Hyatt, is currently facing investigations by state and federal authorities due to allegations of engaging in a massive Medicaid scam. The accusations suggest that he falsely held numerous patients against their will, possibly affecting hundreds of people. Video evidence has surfaced, showing Dr. Hyatt wandering hospital hallways without spending any meaningful time with the patients he was supposed to be treating.

According to NBC News, at least 26 patients have filed lawsuits against Dr. Hyatt, claiming that they were detained against their wishes, some for extended periods, with some even obtaining court orders for their release by sheriff’s deputies. One patient captured on an officer’s bodycam expressed immense gratitude to the deputy for saving their life.

A patient named Shannon Williams, a mother of three and a nurse herself, recounted her harrowing experience, stating that she felt like she was trapped in a prison during her five-day confinement. She vehemently denied being suicidal and pleaded for her release, but her pleas were disregarded. Dr. Hyatt remained largely absent, only appearing in the hallway without providing proper care or attention to the patients.

Dr. Hyatt’s troubles escalated when DEA agents executed a search warrant at his private practice, leading him to resign as chairman of the Arkansas State Medical Board. Additionally, he was abruptly terminated from Northwest Medical Center, where he served as the medical director of the behavioral health unit, and the hospital settled for $1.1 million with the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office due to insufficient documentation for the hospitalization of 246 patients.

The Arkansas Attorney General’s Office accused Dr. Hyatt of operating an insurance scam, billing Medicaid for treatment he rarely provided and charging the highest severity codes for each patient. One search warrant affidavit revealed that Medicaid had paid out over $800,000 to his facility, significantly more than other psychiatrists in Arkansas.

The investigation involved reviewing 45 days of surveillance footage, which revealed that Dr. Hyatt interacted with patients only 17 times, totaling less than 10 minutes. This raised suspicions about the legitimacy of his billing claims.

Although Dr. Hyatt has not been formally charged, at least 26 people are currently suing him, and it is expected that more individuals will come forward. Attorney Aaron Cash, who represents some of the victims, believes that Dr. Hyatt and his team deliberately held patients for as long as possible to maximize insurance billing before releasing them and filling the beds with new patients.

Dr. Hyatt, however, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. When he resigned as chairman of the Arkansas State Medical Board, he asserted that his decision was not due to any misconduct on his part, but rather to allow the Board to continue its important work without disruption.

As the investigations continue, the truth behind these allegations will unfold, shedding light on the disturbing events surrounding Dr. Hyatt’s practices and the potential Medicaid scam.