December 21, 2012 Texas Senator Jane Nelson introduced SB 151 to require, among other things, DSO’s to stop hiding behind fake owners as they do now. A few months ago, several DSO’s formed a coalition in preparation for their fight in Texas. Evidently, they want to remain in hiding.
Today two DSO’s who are members of the coalition of DSO’s issued a press release; throwing down the gallant so to speak. It’s a great piece of fiction you must read:
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- National Recognition Includes TCDSO Members in its Inaugural "Hire Power" List of "Real Heroes of the American Economy"
The Texas Coalition of Dental Support Organizations (TCDSO) - whose members provide non-clinical business support services to Texas dentists - today congratulated four of its members - Great Expressions, Heartland Dental, Pacific Dental Services, and Smile Brands - who were recognized on Inc. Magazine's "Hire Power" list of "Real Heroes of the American Economy."
Inc.'s inaugural list of 100 Hire Power Award honorees recognizes businesses that are making a substantial contribution to the nation by "adding jobs and rebuilding the economy."
Of note, two TCDSO members - Pacific Dental Services and Heartland Dental - were included in Inc.'s list of the "Top Ten Heroes of the American Economy." They were featured as creating the 4th and 6th most new jobs in America in 2012.
Great Expressions and Smile Brands were similarly featured as creating the 25th and 31st most new jobs in the nation.
For the past several years, hundreds of Texas Orthodontic clinics have put braces on children who didn't need them, all to bilk the Medicaid system - stealing your tax dollars. Now that the Feds and State of Texas are hunting down the dirty dogs. What did the owners do? Well they locked their doors and ran; being the cowards they are. Now, ten’s of thousands of children have been abandoned, braces still on and treatment unfinished. Now, volunteers are stepping in.
Roderick Williams, 11, got his braces more than two years ago. When we met him, all that remained were brackets. His wires were broken. His orthodontist was out of business.
His mom, Denecia Williams, was at a loss.
"Now what do I do?" she said. "And it's been a hassle ever since."
Like hundreds of other Texas kids, Roderick was stuck without anyone else to remove what was still left in his mouth. Now there is.
These are just 3 of 30 or more operated by a very close knit group of criminals with DDS after their name in Texas. I’m sure we will be hearing more on this cartel.
Hey, Ms. Lisa Re, is this one ok with you as well? I assume it must be, it’s the same story we hear about Small Smiles of which you are such a big fan!!
Here is Byron Harris’ latest report:
by BYRON HARRIS
Bio | Email WFAA Posted on December 12, 2012 at 10:38 PM Updated today at 9:35 AM
DALLAS -- In the eighteen months since News 8 began reporting on the Medicaid dental program, we’ve discovered hundreds of millions of dollars paid out by Texas that other states don’t pay for at all. We’ve discovered children being lured from their neighborhoods into dental chairs, just for the Medicaid dental fees they’d bring. And we’ve outlined how gift cards have been used to entice parents to bring their kids to certain dentists.
The State of Texas is now cracking down on those practices through enforcement and new systems for reimbursing dentists. But that’s only increased the competition for new, young Medicaid patients and the income they can bring to a dental office. In their worst forms, might be described as tempt and torture.
The Switch Bonus In the parking lots of Dallas DART stations, crude flyers are being tucked under commuters’ windshield wipers.
“Get paid to take ur [sic] kids to the dentist. The dentist is giving $20.00-$35.00 per kid,” the flyer reads.
by Jeff McShan / KHOU 11 News khou.com Posted on November 2, 2012 at 10:51 PM Updated Friday, Nov 2 at 11:00 PM
HOUSTON—Armed with tips and a undercover camera, the Houston Police Department’s Major Offenders Division has been investigating and arresting people suspected of impersonating dentists.
During one undercover investigation detectives met Gilberto Ulloa. HPD captured Ulloa on video giving an examination and investigators said he offered to pull teeth and replace them for $1,500. He was arrested minutes later.
Outside in his driveway police boxed up the evidence that included dozen of dental tools that appeared to be un-sanitized.
In the last several weeks KHOU 11 News tagged along with investigators targeting nearly a dozen suspects. All of them were charged with practicing medicine without a license.
One of them was Julio Contento. Inside his apartment police said they found an entire dental office set up in the living room. He had dozens of tools, an air compressor and unfinished molds for patients he was allegedly treating.
In these tough times, many people with no health insurance can’t find affordable dental care and that’s why this phony dentistry is on the rise.
In Harris County low-cost service is available, but you must apply for it first through the county. We learned, after you apply, quick appointments are hard to come by. Many uninsured people who are in extreme pain end up going to hospital emergency rooms only to find out there are no dentists there.
The need for care is so great that some people waited in line all night recently to receive free dental care in Pasadena. The event was called Dentistry From the Heart. By dawn, nearly 200 people registered hoping to be seen by one of just five dentists and their staff who volunteered their time.
“When my husband died I lost everything and I had to start over. I had no idea how difficult it was to get health insurance,” Trish Perry said. Perry had come to the free event seeking help with her teeth.
Her story was just one of many we heard from all kinds of people who’ve fallen on hard times.
A large tent was the waiting room where the old and young were evaluated.
“A lot of people said I’ve waited to get this fixed for two years,” said Dr. Kimber Homes.
Homes is a hero among the villains who prey on people in need.
“Oh sweet girl, that’s an infection on your gum around a crowded tooth,” Homes told one patient.
After each exam was done under the tent the patients were sent inside to see the other dentists. There was also an oral surgeon on hand. One patient had his wisdom teeth taken out, but events like this are very rare.
That’s why the black market dental trade is thriving here feeding on the demand for care.
Texas Medicaid dental expenditures quadrupled in recent years, from $400 million in 2006 to $1.43 billion in 2011. The Office of Inspector General is now tracking more than $383 million of potential fraud and overpayment, it told a Texas House of Representatives committee.
In a House hearing on Monday, News 8's investigations of Medicaid dental fraud were praised by state representatives. "I have to tip my hat to WFAA in Dallas for doing what they've done," said Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), chairwoman of the Public Health Committee.
The state has suspended payments to 26 orthodontic organizations under a policy called Credible Allegation of Fraud (CAF). The state can hold money back from Medicaid providers if it suspects it was billed fraudulently. Texas estimates that $229 million in Medicaid payments to put braces on kids' teeth may have been improper.
Audits show as many as nine out of 10 payments may have been fraudulent. For general dentistry, more than $154 million may have been overpaid. Expert analysis shows half the bills checked were erroneous. Eighty-nine dental providers have had payments withheld under CAF.
The OIG told a the public health committee of the Texas House that more manpower, more interest in fraud, and improved software are helping catch more fraud going forward. E-mail
It’s apparent to me that neither private companies or government operated health care can operate and deliver healthcare to American’s for a fair price, since theft of taxpayer dollars is part of the business plan. I’ve said all along that people who think Obama Care will solve the problems are so wrong. Some seem to think the government will actually operate it—which somehow would be better. But that simply isn’t the case folks. The government will hand out contracts to greedy corporations to oversee and operate. The same corporations who donate and lobby our lawmakers. All I can see Obama care doing is giving the government the ability to add their favored companies to the free-for-all raiding of the taxpayer money pot.
Byron Harris
November 11, 2011
DALLAS - Claims procedures discovered in a News 8 investigation of "Your tax dollars aren't working," said a former claims specialist, one of several News 8 has interviewed. "You're paying for [dental] services that shouldn't be paid for."the Texas Medicaid Dental program may apply to the whole country, because of the payment process employed by a major government contractor.
In a series of investigative reports over the last several months, News 8 discovered hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicaid billing for orthodontics. Now it appears the problems, which have triggered a federal audit, may be linked as much to the way the claims are approved, as they are to the individual dentists involved.
It turns out that the claims examiners are paid by quantity, and not Employees who might have been making $20 per claim two years ago, now are making $10 per claim. To take home the same pay, they have to push nearly twice as many claims through the system.
"People didn't know how they were going to make their mortgage payment, their car payment, pay their babysitter because every time they turned around, their pay was being reduced again because corporate felt they were making too much money," a former employee said. necessarily quality, under a program called Activity Based Compensation, or ABC. The more claims they process, the more money they make, creating a strong incentive not to take too much time with each one.
"Your tax dollars aren't working," said a former claims specialist, one of several News 8 has interviewed. "You're paying for [dental] services that shouldn't be paid for."
Ms. Abigail Gutierrez, Administrative Assistant Phone: (512) 475-2019 Fax: (512) 463-7452 Ms. Erica Bommarito, Administrative Assistant Phone: (512) 475-1996 Fax: (512) 463-7452 Ms. Jennifer Carriker, Compliance Officer, Administrative Assistant Phone: (512) 305-8991 Fax: (512) 463-7452 Ms. Gutierrez, Ms. Bommarito and Ms. Carriker can assist with: Contacting the Director of Enforcement How to file a compliant or check on the status of an on-going complaint Information about a Closed or Dismissed Case Board Order Compliance (For Conditional Dismissal Compliance - Ms. Debbie Powell, Legal Assistant - (512) 475-0982) Other Agency divisions and contact information
Texas State Dental Board Information: Phone: (512) 463-6400 (8am - 5pm, Monday - Friday, Except Holidays)Main Fax: (512) 463-7452 Open Records Fax: (512) 532-0637Open Records Requests:openrecords@tsbde.texas.gov Mailing Address:
Texas State Board of Dental Examiners 333 Guadalupe, Tower 3, Suite 800 Austin, Texas 78701-3942
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- National Recognition Includes TCDSO Members in its Inaugural "Hire Power" List of "Real Heroes of the American Economy"
