SEATTLE (AP) — A health center that provides services to the poor and minority residents in 10 counties has agreed to pay $3.65 million to settle an investigation by the Washington Attorney General’s Office.
The Seattle Times reports (http://is.gd/sS880v ) that the investigation found that Sea Mar Community Health Centers overbilled Medicaid for thousands of dental appointments.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson says his office raised concerns over the billings, which occurred between 2010 and 2014. They involved routine anti-cavity fluoride treatments. His office says the treatments where done by dental assistants during routine checkups, but were billed as though they were stand-alone appointments with a dentist or hygienist.
The settlement resolves a pending lawsuit filed by Sea Mar against the state. The company sued after Ferguson’s office demanded it pay millions for overbilling for more than a decade.
via Health center pays state $3.65 million to settle probe – San Antonio Express-News.