Indianapolis dentist Dr. Arnel Gallanosa

Indianapolis dentist, Dr. Arnel J. Gallanosa, DDS, faced charges of Medicaid fraud in January 2012

While on probation for stealing Vicodin prescription, Marion County Prosecuting Attorney charged Dr. Gallanona  on 10 counts of Medicaid fraud, five counts of theft and three counts of conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud.

A court affidavit claimed that Gallanosa offered patients money for accepting free dental work, then billed Indiana's Medicaid program.

In one instance, Gallanosa paid a man who recruited three dental patients from an Indianapolis mental health facility, the Marion County Prosecutor's Office said.

Prosecutors said in one day, he removed 33 teeth from the three patients.

Dr. Gallanosa worked for ImmediaDent, owned by James Ferrell of Ferrell Gas – Blu Rhio Propane

So what happened to Dr. Gallanosa, was he taken off the streets?  Nope!  He went right back to work. It’s my understand he was not to treat Medicaid patients but he worked in a clinic that did…so….  It’s possible, just possible he saw Medicaid patients and it was billed under another dentists name, know what I mean?

Dr. Gallanosa was before the Indiana Dental Board at it’s February 1, 2013 meeting, and asked just these questions. After some tough questions, Dr. G finally admitted he was working in Evansville, Indiana and was indeed treating Medicaid patients.  One board member was furious and wanted his license revoked.  The rest, well… they wanted to investigate it further!!  What’s to investigate?! 

An administrative meeting was held on February 13, 2013 to address Dr. Gallanosa’s misdeeds, the outcome is unknown.

Arnel J. Gallanosa, D.D.S., License No. 12009962A
Administrative Cause No. 2012 ISBD 0004

Dr. Arnel J.Gallanosa facing fraud charges in Indianapolis

Indystar.com

Written by Bill McCleery

An Indianapolis dentist faces fraud charges stemming from an apparent scheme to perform unnecessary dental work in order to collect payment's from Indiana's Medicaid program.

In one case, for example, Arnel J. Gallanosa removed 33 teeth from three patients who were residents of Midtown St. George Residential Facility, said Brienne Delaney, spokeswoman for Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry.

The dentist also allegedly paid patients small kickback fees for agreeing to receive dental work.

"In an effort to garner more business for his dental practice," Delaney said in a release, "Dr. Gallanosa paid staff members and a 'runner' to recruit new patients who were eligible for Medicaid benefits. The patients would be offered five or ten dollars and 'free' dental work."

The Indiana Medicaid program reimbursed Gallanosa for the services, Delaney said, and patients would have no out-of-pocket costs.

The man hired as the runner for the three patients named in court documents previously pleaded guilty to felony prescription fraud in relation to this case. The runner, Darnell White, kept Vicodin pain pills that Gallanosa had prescribed to the three Midtown residents. He remains on probation, Delaney said, following his conviction.

"A licensed medical professional, such as a dentist, should inspire trust and respect," Curry said in a release. "It is thus particularly disturbing for a medical professional to abuse the trust of his patients and prey upon some of our most vulnerable citizens. We will vigorously prosecute any such fraud and abuse."

Working with police and prosecutors, the Indiana Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the fraudulent Medicaid claims and alleged abuse of the patients in the St. George institution, Delaney said.