Office of Inspector General
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Charles Warter aka Carlos Warter – psychiatrist
Through the false and inflated claims, Warter billed these programs approximately $1 million and received approximately $530,000 in purported reimbursements.
Warter operated a psychiatry practice in Hawaii, but he frequently traveled out of state and out of country for business and personal purposes. Warter submitted claims for psychotherapy services supposedly provided by him on days when he was not in Hawaii.
According to a Federal indictment, claims submitted by Warter overstated the amount of time spent with his patients. Many of the claims submitted represented that he had provided psychotherapy sessions of 45-50 minutes or 75-80 minutes, but these sessions usually lasted only 15-20 minutes.
Warter was arrested by Argentina officials on May 23, 2011 based on a U.S. request for provisional arrest pending Federal charges.
Database: Search
discipline cases
The path to discipline for physicians and physicians assistants can be slow in Hawaii,
and discipline isn’t always apparent to consumers checking records on the Department
of Commerce & Consumer Affairs website.
Professional WARTER, CARLOS
Details Dr. Carlos Warter, a psychiatrist, was convicted in Colorado more than three decades
ago of falsification of reports after he overcharged that state’s Medicaid program
$44,500. He subsequently was banned from participating in any Medicaid and Medicare
programs for 20 years, according to regulatory records. In 1999, Florida refused to issue
Warter a medical license. Among other things, Florida cited a lack of good moral
character and Warter’s conviction for a crime that related directly to the practice of
medicine. A decade later, Washington state likewise rejected Warter’s license
application, citing the conviction and misrepresentation or concealment of material facts
related to a crime involving moral turpitude. In between the two denials, Hawaii issued
Warter an unrestricted license in May 2004. A 2010 federal indictment accused Warter
of using a false billing scheme to submit $1 million in inflated claims to Hawaii Medicaid,
HMSA and TriCare from 2004 through December 2008. Warter, who at the time of his
indictment was living in Argentina, was put on the Office of the Inspector General’s
mostwanted fugitives list. He was arrested in Argentina in 2011. But the indictment,
which covered 62 counts related to false billings, was dismissed recently “in the interest
of justice and for humanitarian reasons.” A July motion by federal prosecutors requested
the court dismiss the case because of Warter’s health, though it didn’t elaborate. A
document filed by his lawyer, federal Public Defender Peter Wolff, elaborating on
Warter’s health, was sealed by the court. In a brief phone conversation, Wolff said
Warter couldn’t be reached in Argentina. The prosecution document seeking the
dismissal said the government was relying on an agreement with Warter “that he will
never again seek to be reimbursed” for medical services covered directly or indirectly by
federal funds. Warter was first indicted by the state in August 2009 just four months
after the Hawaii Senate confirmed him to serve on the state’s medical advisory board.
He was nominated by thenGov. Linda Lingle and had been serving on the volunteer
panel, which advises the state on medical issues related to obtaining a drivers’ license,
since December 2007. Based on Washington’s medical licensure denial, Hawaii’s
medical board in 2010 pursued a complaint against Warter. In February 2011, the board
approved a settlement in which Warter agreed to voluntarily surrender his medical
license. He allegedly failed to inform Hawaii about Washington’s decision within the
required 30 days. It’s unclear whether he disclosed his conviction when he applied for
his Hawaii license. Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs officials said they
could not comment on information related to the Warter application, citing state law.
Convicted in Colorado of falsification of reports
Florida refused to issue Warter a medical license – cited a lack of good moral character and Warter’s conviction for a crime
State of Washington – Denial of Application for License
Associated Press – PSYCHIATRIST CARLOS WARTER AKA CHARLES WARTER ARRESTED IN ARGENTINA – WAS IN TROUBLE IN COLORADO
Uruguay – Records Search Underway
Argentina – Records Search Underway
Chile – Records Search Underway
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From: Elise Kert [mailto:elisekert@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, December 4, 2017 12:04 PM
To: records@psychsearch.net
Subject: CEASE AND DESIST
Attention: Ken Kramer, PsychSearch.net
We are writing to direct you immediately to cease and desist from hosting, publishing, or in any way using the name of Carlos Warter M.D. publicly and in a disparaging way.
We have become aware that you have published a a page on the internet, https://www.psychsearch.net/carlos-warter/, with unproven allegations and disparaging remarks about Carlos Warter, M.D.
Accordingly, you have no lawful right to represent yourself as knowledgeable in these circumstances, and you are without any proof of the allegations you make publicly. We demand that you immediately:
1. Remove the website page entirely, along with any claims, statements, pictures, logos, etc. anywhere else on your website or any social media platforms. that indicate any unproven facts or convictions against Carlos Warter M.D. Please provide before and after screenshots to confirm your compliance with this demand.
2. Inform any companies, organizations, or individuals to whom you have misrepresented yourself as an expert or party to any of these claims. We must be copied on these emails.
If these actions are not taken within 14 days of the date of this letter, we will be forced to begin defamation proceedings, contact all companies, organizations, or individuals you have been associated with, any social media pages, and all local authorities stating you are misrepresenting yourself to the community.
Please note that we will frequently check the website page, and social media, you may be associated with, and local publications and organizations for false information associated with Carlos Warter M.D.
We will use the full extent of the law to make sure that you are held fully responsible for any and all claims you make without substantiation if you do not comply with the demands of this correspondence.
Submit this information and your written assurances to me no later than December 18, 2017, or we will begin further action against you as described above.–
S. Elise Kert, Esq.
elisekert@gmail.com
760.420.3764
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