James Dodson

PRESS RELEASE
Clarksville Psychiatrist Pleads Guilty To Making False Statements To Medicare & Tricare
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Tennessee

NASHVILLE – A Clarksville, Tennessee psychiatrist pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to two counts of making false statements relating to health care matters, announced U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis.

Dr. James Maures Dodson, 57, pleaded guilty to making false statements to Medicare and TRICARE in connection with two types of criminal activity. First, he caused his practice, Clarksville Behavioral Health (CBH), to submit claims for services he did not provide. On several dates between August 16, 2016, and December 10, 2018, he caused CBH to submit claims for more than 24 hours of services per day.

Second, between May 2018 and October 2020, Dodson caused CBH to falsely represent to TRICARE that other CBH providers were certified by TRICARE when they were not. For TRICARE to pay a claim for the services of a provider, TRICARE regulations required that the provider be certified by TRICARE. In May 2018, CBH offered to repay approximately $135,412.16 to TRICARE due to prior claims that had been rendered by non-TRICARE-certified providers. Notwithstanding this agreement, Dodson caused CBH to continue submitting claims to TRICARE, falsely representing that providers at his practice were TRICARE-certified when they were not.

Dodson’s sentencing has been set for September 27, 2023. He faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.

This case was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor J. Phillips is prosecuting the case.

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