Inverness psychologist admits to submitting bills for dead patients

A 60-year-old Inverness psychologist pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal health care fraud charges.

Sharon A. Rinaldi was charged with bilking Medicare out of roughly $500,000 between 2008 and 2012 by submitting false claims for patients residing in skilled nursing homes throughout the region.

Rinaldi was accused of submitting therapy bills for patients who were dead on dates she claimed she was providing treatment. She is also accused of lying about providing treatment to patients in Las Vegas and San Diego as well as billing for treatments that would have exceeded 24 hours in a single day.

Prosecutors said Rinaldi submitted phony bills for about $1.1 million in Medicare reimbursements during that four-year span and received at least $447,155.

Rinaldi has agreed to forfeit more than $100,000 that was seized from her home and personal bank accounts.

She faces up to 10 years in prison at her upcoming sentencing.