November 23, 2009
CORPUS CHRISTI — A child psychologist convicted of Medicaid fraud under a now-defunct state rule likely will keep his license.
A disciplinary panel of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists has decided to reprimand Dr. Sam S. Hill III and waive a $500 fine. The ruling won’t be final until approved by the full board in February.
“Dr. Hill’s lack of disciplinary history, significant community service and the unique aspects of the case as tried in federal court were considered mitigating factors in this case,” reads a recent letter from the board’s attorney to Hill.
Hill said he could not comment until the decision is final. Herbert Larson, Hill’s appellate attorney, said the panel’s decision is good news for the community.
“He provides an extraordinarily valuable service to indigent persons in that area in terms of providing them with mental heath care,” Larson said. “There’s simply no one who can replace him.”
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where Hill teaches, also has sent Hill a letter of reprimand, university spokesman Marshall Collins said. He no longer can work outside the school or supervise students’ off-campus practicums, but he is teaching a full load, Collins said.
Hill was convicted in June 2008 of billing Medicaid for master’s level psychologists’ testing services. The practice was illegal only in Texas and Mississippi when he submitted the bills. Texas has since changed the rule, effective Sept. 1.
The rule change led U.S. District Judge Hayden Head to sentence Hill in September to five years’ probation and $90,000 in restitution and fines, rather than prison time as prosecutors recommended.
Head also questioned prosecutors on why the case was brought as a criminal action instead of a civil case for the government to recoup its losses. Hill was found to have defrauded Medicaid of $48,700.
If Hill received prison time, his license would have been revoked automatically. Probation gave the state psychology board latitude to allow him to keep his license.
Hill is appealing his conviction to the U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit in New Orleans. Briefs are due from both sides in the next two months, and Hill should know early next year whether the court will grant oral arguments in the case, Larson said.
The state psychology board found that Hill’s conduct was not proved to be motivated by financial gain and that he continued to see Medicaid patients for free after his indictment. The board also took into account that the state audited Hill’s billing practices twice before the indictment and found no problems.
* Comments
DevilsAdvocate writes:
This whole case is ridiculous and an embarrassment to the legal system… there are probably hundredths of doctors in the area that are truly fraudulent and are walking around getting away with everything, when in this case it was a ridiculous law that 48 out of 50 states had already changed… I truly do not understand why this was even pursued… It had to be personal… I can almost guarantee that more money was lost in the investigation and the court case than the $48k that he was found guilty of “defrauding”… the prosecutors and investigators should be fired for wasting my taxpayer money…
mackattack writes:
I agree with your comment and would like to add: Dr. Hill is a GOOD man and great Psychologist.
ridley writes:
Hill stole several hundred thousand dollars through fraud, he even continued after he was told to stop by the authorities. He should lose his license. It helps to have friends who make powerful political donations and own big convenience store chains. He was only charged with a handful of the cases to expedite the court case. not bad steal several hundred thousand, pay out a hundred thousand.
nepdcc#401467 writes:
There was an hispanic psychologist who committed the same offense and he was given prison time. The Board also took his license. There is racism at work here. It's ok for this psychologist to test people through subordinates, but not for the hispanic doctor. The disparate treatment was in the same court.
jt writes:
Dr. Hill is Hispanic. His family is of Cuban ancestry and he speaks fluent Spanish.
mackattack writes:
Typical: pulling out the race card when you don't even know what you're talking about.
kenmartinwb23#450666 writes:
If your referencing Dr. Joe Lerma, you need to have your head examined! Lerma was convicted of billing for testing that never happened, which of course is FRAUD! He broke the law. And he happened to be hispanic. Period.
Eagle_run_fast writes:
well first of all let me tell you about dr hill he is kind and caring and only wants the best for his patients. i know my son goes to him and i am so blessed to have him he has helped my son so much you dont know what it is like to have a child are adult who cant handle things around them well. dr hill is someone i respect and think alot of he is a awesome man and he does for others and this thing with the race card oh god please people when do we stop with the race card it is not about race it is about someone who cares for others yeah he did something but then again i am sure we all have at one time are another so lets just be glad that some one is here to help when others will not as for me i am thankful for dr hill and all he doe
Maranatha writes:
Several years ago, I went back to TAMU (I went to UCC) to take some psychology and philosophy classes. I don't know anything about Medicaid fraud, but I DO know about professors and counselors. Dr. Hill was the most profound teacher I have ever studied under in all my years. If I had a child in crisis, I would get that child to Dr. Hill ASAP. He teaches the parents about their own children.
I cannot comment on the case--only on the person; and there is something terribly wrong with this picture. The man that I knew was a literal "Solomon"--not a fraud. Self-sacrificing--not greedy. I cannot even believe I am reading news of this nature about Sam Hill.
Dr. Hill, people who know you are not shaken in the least by this mess. You have literally saved the lives of many troubled children, and you are a trustworthy, honest person. You just keep helping families, and God will write the last chapter of this book.
Friday, November 27, 2009
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