Inverness Psychologist Charged With Medicare Fraud

Sharon A. Rinaldi, 57, of Inverness, was charged with health care fraud for allegedly over-billing the Medicare program in U.S. District Court Tuesday, Oct. 2.

According to the indictment, the licensed psychologist is accused of submitting thousands of false and fraudulent claims, billing the government health care program for services she did not provide.

Between Dec. 2008 and Aug. 2012, the five-count indictment alleges Rinaldi billed Medicare for psychotherapy sessions conducted with beneficiaries who were deceased and for sessions held when the psychologist was out of state. The Inverness woman is also accused of inflating the number of hours she worked on certain dates, often exceeding 24 hours in a single day.

The indictment seeks forfeiture of more than $100,000 that was seized from her home and a personal bank account. If convicted, Rinaldi could serves up 10 years in prison.

Rinaldi of the 1000 block of Thyra Lane in Inverness is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday, Oct. 10 in U.S. District Court.