State College psychologist charged with scheming Medicare

Sara Ganim

A State College psychologist who is being sued by a patient alleging improper treatment is now also facing criminal charges that he scammed Medicare and other health care programs out of more than $50,000.

Dr. Julian Metter was charged in federal court in Harrisburg Friday with billing health care benefit programs more than 200 times between October 2002 and October 2005 for psychotherapy sessions in his office when he wasn’t in Centre County, court papers allege.

The charge, signed by U.S. Attorney Martin C. Carlson, accuses Metter of falsifying records when he knew he “could not have met with and treated patients.”

Metter’s attorney, New Jersey-based Ronald Greenblatt, said Metter plans to plead guilty to the criminal charge.

“Dr. Metter deeply regrets his actions that led to this criminal charge,” Greenblatt said. “He will resolve this quickly and hopes to continue to be a positive member of his community.”

Metter has already signed a plea agreement, according to court papers, and Greenblatt said it is likely he’ll appear before the court to formally enter the plea sometime this summer. He could be sentenced this fall.

Metter, 57, was sued last fall in county court by a patient who says he emotionally and physically traumatized her when he drugged her with carbon dioxide and questioned her while she was unconscious.

That case has been on hold pending the criminal investigation, and was hindered when Metter decided to remain silent under his fifth amendment right, said Bernard Cantorna, the attorney who filed the civil suit on behalf of Metter’s patient.

“This man has a lot here to answer for,” Cantorna said. “He is currently licensed and practicing right now, as we speak, and if this makes that stop, my client will be much relieved because she truly believes that other people will fall victim to his unique psychotherapy treatments.”

On his Web site and MySpace.com site, Metter advertises alternative and “innovative” treatments, which is at the heart of the civil suit.

In October, Cantorna showed the Centre Daily Times a 30-minute video of Metter treating the woman who filed the lawsuit.

The tape shows her willingly participating in the beginning, but struggling after a few minutes of inhaling the carbon dioxide. Metter is shown holding her in place until she passed out.

Sara Ganim can be reached at 231-4616.