A Mechanicsville dentist who defrauded Medicaid and several insurance companies out of $783,000 from 2013 to 2016 was sentenced Friday to 30 months in prison. In pleading guilty to health care fraud last December, Maryam E. Zarei, 47, of Glen … Read More
A Hanover County dentist faces a possible prison term when sentenced Friday for defrauding Medicaid and four insurance companies out of more than $783,000. Maryam E. Zarei, 47, of Glen Allen, the owner and operator of Atlee Station Family Dentistry … Read More
PHOENIX — The Arizona Attorney General’s Office announced that two women were arrested for allegedly performing unlicensed dental work in a Glendale office. Melissa M. Pavey, 45, and Jolene E. Houchens, 38, were accused of performing unlicensed tooth extractions and … Read More
A Bucks County dentist has pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud, and agreed to pay $1.5 million in restitution after he and his company submitted fraudulent claims to the Medicaid Program for dental work that was never performed. Dr. Ilya Babiner, … Read More
The shake-up over contract mismanagement at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission continued Friday with the resignation of another state official who oversees contracting. Ron Pigott, the agency’s deputy executive commissioner for procurement and contracting services, is leaving as … Read More
Since the start of the Obama administration in 2009, Texas has sued the federal government more than 48 times, costing taxpayers millions of dollars. The state’s latest lawsuit is a renewed effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a … Read More
AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott says he is alarmed by contracting mistakes at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and is sending a top aide, former state Sen. Tommy Williams, to correct the problems. Abbott said through a spokesman … Read More
Medical records, driver’s license and Social Security numbers, and other personal information of Texas Health Resources patients may have been accessed unlawfully, the Arlington-based health system is warning. Texas Health is one of North Texas’ largest provider groups with more … Read More
Texas overcharged the federal government for a portion of primary care reimbursement following a state Medicaid rate cut, according to the HHS Office of Inspector General, so Texas should refund the federal government $20.7 million for those overcharges and other … Read More
Certain occupations are inherently more dangerous than others. But whether you are a dentist, lawyer, or business executive, your business can become a target of employee fraud. When fraud does occur, what happens next? How will you feel? And as … Read More
AUSTIN — The state has canceled five new managed-care contracts for low-income youngsters enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program after finding errors in a spreadsheet used to evaluate bids. In addition, the Health and Human Services Commission on Monday … Read More
Dentists are being told not to treat extremely heavy patients for fear of getting sued. Patients weighing more than 20st should be sent to specialist clinics, dentists are being warned unless their clinics have dental chairs specially designed to bear … Read More
April 03, 2018 – Medicaid fraud control units (MFCUs) recovered $1.8 billion in 2017 through effective collaboration with state governments, according a new report released by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). MFCUs recovered $6.52 for every dollar spent … Read More
Every year, hundreds of thousands of Americans spend around $2,000 on veneers to make their teeth look whiter and to hide imperfections. The custom-made shells are extremely thin and are bonded to the front of the teeth in order to … Read More
GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas – On Tuesday, the Galveston County Health District said that out of the 9,500 patients who may have been exposed to deadly diseases at Texas City’s Coastal Health and Wellness facility, roughly 600 are children. So far, … Read More
Dental practices are reporting to Henry Schein Practice Solutions that they have received calls from an individual posing as a company employee who then asks for remote access to the office servers. The company in late January stated that, according … Read More
Patients who learned they may have been exposed to serious diseases at a Texas City clinic are angry and scared. Galveston County Sheriff’s Office deputies would not allow reporters to enter the Coastal Health and Wellness Clinic on Saturday afternoon … Read More
While getting patients to the dentist can be like pulling teeth, Dr. Lan Chi Le has built a business designed to make dental care easy, affordable and accessible for all. Le is the founder of ZYGO Dental Management Group, a … Read More
Texas is frequently criticized in the media for having the highest uninsured rate in the nation. The presumption is that uninsured Texans and uninsured residents in other states aren’t getting health care because they lack health insurance, particularly government supported … Read More
AUSTIN, Texas, March 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — In its first such rating measuring member satisfaction, Superior HealthPlan finished in the top five nationally for its STAR+PLUS Medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP). The company earned a score of 89 out of 100 in … Read More
LONG BEACH, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: MOH) today announced that its Texas subsidiaries, Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc. and Molina Healthcare of Texas Insurance Company, have been awarded contracts by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for … Read More
With only nine days left before the expiration of the existing 1115 Waiver, in late December 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved another extension of the 1115(a) demonstration project, “Texas Healthcare Transformation and Quality Improvement Program” … Read More
Medical equipment suppliers in Texas recently banded together to hold off reimbursement reductions proposed by a managed care company. Texas’ 85th Legislature requires that the state’s Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) reduce Medicaid spending by $830 million and suggests … Read More
During last year’s fight against efforts in Washington to repeal the Affordable Care Act, poll after poll showed most Americans opposed Medicaid cuts that would turn back the clock on decades of civil rights progress for people with disabilities. Disability … Read More
For now, congressional Republicans appear to have set aside efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Yet, it’s increasingly clear that the Trump administration is doubling down on its attempts to seriously weaken the ACA’s Medicaid expansion by making … Read More
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) — A family practitioner based in Helena has turned himself in for Medicaid fraud. The arrest is related to the October arrests of Pearlie Bailey, 63, of Hollandale, Mississippi; Charline Brandon, 61, of Cleveland, Mississippi; Clotee … Read More
A year-long investigation by the website MedPage Today and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel into how well states police physicians is out, and Alaska didn’t score well. “States of Disgrace: A Flawed System Fails to Inform the Public” is the title … Read More
An Olmito woman arrested during a nationwide sweep of people suspected of health care fraud in 2015 has been found guilty. The United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas, announced in a press release that U.S. District Judge Andrew … Read More
It was an angry scene that lasted for weeks in the spring of 2015 along an uphill stretch of University Boulevard. Parents protested how a Jacksonville dentist had abused their children in his office nearby. Howard Sheldon Schneider had pulled … Read More
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is under indictment for several felonies, had a grand time in Washington on Tuesday, convening with several of his fellow Republican attorneys general to roll out their plan to kill the Affordable Care Act … Read More
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) — A Mount Pleasant dentist has been sentenced to prison for a tax violation, according to officials. Judy Villanyi, 48, was charged with bank fraud, obstruction, and failure to file taxes. She was sentenced to five months … Read More
Texas is suing the federal government over President Barack Obama’s landmark health law — again. In a 20-state lawsuit filed Monday in federal court, Attorney General Ken Paxton argued that after the passage of the GOP’s tax plan last year … Read More
FONDA — A Canajoharie dentist arrested last year on fraud allegations will spend time in state prison after pleading guilty in the case, Montgomery County District Attorney Kelli McCoski said Thursday. Martin Sorbero, 63, of Hagaman, appeared in court last … Read More
SAN ANTONIO — The courtroom was silent and thick with anxiety Thursday morning as the judge’s deputy read the verdicts: “Guilty,” “guilty,” “guilty” — 11 times over, and on all felony counts. State Sen. Carlos Uresti sat stone-faced, his gaze … Read More
Back in July 2017, I came across a newspaper article that was being shared on a popular dental hygiene Facebook group about a dental hygienist from Idaho named Cherie Dillon. According to the story, Cherie was convicted of Medicaid fraud … Read More
Texas ranks near the bottom of the list when it comes to dental health, according to a study conducted by WalletHub. According to the study, Texas ranks 42nd out of all 50 states in the U.S. in regards to care … Read More
It’s a familiar scenario: Two friends reconnect at a dental convention, share a few stories, and decide to meet again. In just a few months, Bill found himself at Paul’s lake house for a “fishing trip,” laughing and telling tall … Read More
TYLER – Smith Dental Care has been offering free teeth cleaning, extractions and fillings for the past 14 years. There are times when people such as Ricky Francis could benefit from something that’s usually a hit to his wallet. Francis … Read More
EL PASO, Texas – Dentists from The Dental Ark are teaming up with the YWCA El Paso del Norte Region to train staff and donate resources to students. Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, of the Dental Ark, said that we should begin … Read More
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After an I-TEAM report detailing the use of papoose boards by an embattled Jacksonville pediatric dentist accused of abusing patients, News4Jax heard from dozens of parents who shared stories of their terrified children being strapped to the … Read More
