El Paso-based Texas Tech University wants to purchase vacant property next to its health sciences center to expand its dental school, KTSM reported April 11. Among the property the school is looking to purchase is a building occupied by the … Read More
AUSTIN – Attorney General Paxton’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has successfully concluded an investigation that led to the conviction and sentencing of Anthony Obute, the owner and pharmacist in charge of Keystone Pharmacy in Houston. Obute was sentenced to 210 … Read More
MIAMI – Two Miami healthcare providers were sentenced Thursday for their roles in a $31 million Medicare fraud scheme, prosecutors say. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Dean Zusmer, 54, was sentenced to eight years and one month in … Read More
Boston, April 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DentaQuest, part of Sun Life U.S., is encouraging Medicaid and CHIP enrollees to receive oral health care services as the state resumes Medicaid redeterminations and disenrollments. In response to COVID-19, the federal government … Read More
When the Odle family had a career change, all five of their kids lost dental insurance. “Unfortunately, our dental insurance changed, so we didn’t have any for the kids, which was terrifying because we have to,” their mother, Judy said. … Read More
Hugo Moraes-DeLima, age 41, of Boca Raton, Florida, was busted in Danbury on Sunday, April 16, at the La Quinta Hotel. According to Erin Henry, a spokesperson for the Danbury Police, officers responded to the hotel located at 116 Newtown … Read More
McALLEN, Texas ‐ An owner of a Rio Grande Valley area home health company has been ordered to prison for his conviction of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Miguel Angel Contreras, 44, McAllen, … Read More
Efforts by Attorney General Paxton’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit have led to a Houston couple being charged in a multimillion-dollar health care fraud scheme. “I’m proud to announce yet another example of my office’s commitment to enforcing the law and … Read More
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The owner of a home health care company based out of the Rio Grande Valley is headed to prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud, according to a release from the United States Attorney’s Office … Read More
CHARLOTTE — Federal agents were granted seizure of two properties owned by a North Carolina woman after she was accused of committing healthcare fraud. In the civil forfeiture documents, the FBI is seeking the forfeiture of two Charlotte properties: One … Read More
Attorney General Paxton’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit secured a conviction for a woman who attempted to steal over $615,000 by submitting fraudulent reimbursement claims for services that were never provided. Kay Le Farmer was convicted of using the provider number … Read More
HARRISBURG — A Pittsburgh-area lawmaker lamented Tuesday the “absolutely tragic” anguish of people with little money and serious dental problems, telling state officials about phone messages left for a local dentist from Medicaid recipients with “pain that you can hear … Read More
n letters to U.S. House and Senate leaders, a coalition of more than 150 national, state and local oral health and advocacy organizations, including the American Dental Association, urged congressional leaders to co-sponsor and work to advance the Medicaid Dental … Read More
For some people the thought of going to a dentist is scary enough, but for others, it’s the cost that’s teeth chattering! Especially if they’re uninsured or under-insured. Here in Virginia, there are several clinics that have refused care to … Read More
RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A settlement of more than has been reached to resolve allegations that an Indian Trail pharmacy submitted false claims to the Medicare and Medicaid programs. N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein announced Monday that MedCare … Read More
Every quarter, CDA publishes a Practice Health Check focusing on a different topic related to the business side of dentistry. HIPAA compliance, specifically patients’ access to their records, is the focus in the second quarter of 2023. CDA members are … Read More
The ADA is conducting a nationwide survey of U.S. dental offices in order to understand the use of electronic health/dental records and associated issues, such as the ability to transfer data between systems and the ability to share information with … Read More
A lawsuit filed by a former Mountain Home resident against a Missouri company involved in Medicaid fraud will be allowed to proceed. On Thursday, the Arkansas Supreme Court vacated an earlier decision by the Arkansas Court of Appeals to uphold … Read More
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A registered nurse and nurse practitioner, who defrauded health insurers and Medicare of close to $12 million was sentenced to federal prison. Court documents said Alexander Istomin, 57, pleaded guilty in October 2022 to 11 counts … Read More
MINOT, N.D (KMOT) – Medicaid pays dental providers 45% less than private insurance for both children and adult patients, according to the American Dental Association. Kris Pladson, Minot Dental Program Director with Dakota College at Bottineau, said it’s difficult for … Read More
Federal prosecutors received the green light to retry Philip Esformes on pending healthcare fraud charges after US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas rejected an emergency appeal from the assisted living community and nursing home owner on Tuesday. Esformes had sought … Read More
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – The owner of an Acadiana hospice care facility has been convicted of defrauding Medicare of over $1.5 million, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A federal jury returned a guilty verdict against Kristal Glover-Wing, 50, of … Read More
TULSA, Okla. — A Tulsa dentist was charged after not following the proper drug safety protocols during dental procedures, according to court documents filed last month. Dr. Lauren Whenry, 40, of Tulsa, is facing one count of distribution of a … Read More
HARRISBURG, Pa. – A Berks County-based home care agency and its owner have been charged in a nearly half million-dollar Medicaid fraud scheme. Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced Tuesday that based upon recommendations from the 47th Statewide Investigating Grand … Read More
Doctors are demanding an apology after researchers debunked “baseless” accusations of widespread Medicare fraud. Nicole Higgins from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners seized on the study to claim vindication. “Late last year, the entire general practice profession was … Read More
To create the list, which was released Jan. 10, U.S. News & World Report selected the occupations with the largest number and percentage of projected openings from 2021 to 2031. Each career was ranked based on their scores in different … Read More
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — A Charleston woman was booked into the Richland County detention center Friday on charges of Medicaid fraud and forgery after state officials say she initiated and received false claims from the South Carolina Department of Health … Read More
NEWTOWN, CT — A Newtown psychologist and advanced registered nurse has pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicaid by billing the government health insurance program for thousands of dollars. Jeannie Pasacreta, 66, of Abbey Lane, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Hartford Superior Court … Read More
The ADA commended Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., for introducing legislation that would make comprehensive dental care a mandatory component of Medicaid coverage for adults in every state. In a March 17 letter, ADA President George R. Shepley, D.D.S., and Executive … Read More
GARDEN GROVE, CA — An Orange County pharmacist will pay nearly $4 million to settle allegations that she fraudulently billed Medicare for medications that were never dispensed, according to authorites. Gisele Nguyen, of Huntington Beach, has agreed to pay $3.93 … Read More
TYLER, Texas (KETK) – Gov. Greg Abbott recently reappointed a Tyler woman to the state Dental Review Board. Amanda Richardson is a registered dental hygienist, professor and instructional designer at Tyler Junior College. She is a member of the American … Read More
YONKERS, NY — The ringleader of a massive Medicaid embezzlement scheme has been sentenced to nearly eight years behind bars. Julio Alvarado, of Yonkers, was sentenced to 95 months in prison for leading a scheme to defraud Medicaid of millions … Read More
HOUSTON – A 63-year-old Sugar Land resident has been ordered to prison for conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Joyce Agu pleaded guilty Oct. 17, 2022. Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered her … Read More
A U.S. lawmaker is taking action after a KHN investigation exposed weaknesses in the federal system meant to stop repeat Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) said he decided to introduce a bill in the House … Read More
The federal government has announced its 2023-2024 fiscal year budget, including a brand-new dental care plan for Canada. “We will begin rolling out a dental care plan that will eventually cover up to 9 million uninsured Canadians,” Chrystia Freeland said … Read More
The waiting room was full and so were the patient rooms at Dental Health Arlington on Friday. “We’re going to get a look at your teeth here, OK?” Dr. John Avila said to a young patient. “Alright honey, let’s get … Read More
In October, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear announced the expansion of dental, vision and hearing benefits for 900,000 Kentucky adults on Medicaid. On March 16, the Republican-controlled General Assembly took a final vote to take those benefits away, calling the regulation … Read More
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A Houston couple is set to appear in court over allegations of fraud involving a home health company they jointly owned and operated. The video above is from ABC13’s Live Streaming Channel. Caroline Zamora, 63, and … Read More
A DSO, or a dental support organization, is an entity that contracts with dental practices to provide administrative, marketing, and/or other business management services for the practice. DSOs do not perform any clinical services. Instead, the services they provide are … Read More
Federal prosecutors charged a Kinnelon woman with health care fraud Friday, alleging that she received $10 million in fraudulent reimbursement payments over a span of seven years. Aysha Khan, 33, controlled and operated specialty pharmacies in New Jersey, New York, … Read More
