New DSO Regulations on tap for Texas–Batter up!

Texas legislators to consider new DSO regulations

By Donna Domino, Features Editor

December 28, 2012 -- Dental service organizations (DSOs) in Texas would be subject to greater oversight under a bill being introduced by a Texas legislator who accused the groups of "outrageous actions" involving unnecessary pediatric procedures.

SB 151 is designed to "strengthen the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners' ability to ensure that dental treatment is directed solely by licensed dentists, not by corporate entities." The measure would also require DSOs to register with the board and prohibits them from "interfering with dentists' treatment decisions."

“These types of entities have been involved in some of the illegal and, quite candidly, outrageous actions.”

— Sen. Jane Nelson

The bill was prefiled on December 21 by Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound) in advance of the 83rd Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, which reconvenes on January 8. It would require DSOs to register with the state dental board, and it also would allow the dental board to impose administrative penalties and disciplinary actions against DSOs that violate the Texas Dental Practice Act. Similar to in many states, the law states that only licensed dentists can own and operate dental clinics.

Currently, DSOs in Texas are not subject to any state regulation, Nelson noted.

"We need to ensure that these organizations are accountable to the board and, more importantly, that they are not substituting their judgment for that of our trained, licensed dentists," Nelson said in a statement.

Read the entire story at Dr. Bicuspid

Related:

Dental Patient Protection SB 151

Dental Patient Protection: SB 151 strengthens the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners' ability to ensure that dental treatment is directed solely by licensed dentists, not by corporate entities. It requires dental service organizations (DSOs) to register with the Board and prohibits them from interfering with dentists' treatment decisions. It also allows the Board to impose administrative penalties and take disciplinary action against a DSO found in violation of the Texas Dental Practice Act. Before performing dental treatment on a child, SB 151 requires that a dentist inform the child's parent or guardian that they have the option to be present in the treatment room, and it prohibits a dentist from performing the dental treatment or procedure without the parent or guardian present if they desire to be in the treatment room. Currently, DSOs are not subject to any state regulation. "We need to ensure that these organizations are accountable to the Board and, more importantly, that they are not substituting their judgment for that of our trained, licensed dentists. No child should undergo complicated, painful procedures without a parent being involved at every point in the process. These types of entities have been involved in some of the illegal and, quite candidly, outrageous actions involving the enticement of children to undergo costly and oftentimes unnecessary procedures at the taxpayer's expense."

Senator Jane Nelson
P.O. Box 12068, State Capitol
Austin, Texas 78711
Tel. (512) 463-0112
Fax (512) 463-0923

Goldstein, Garber and Salama now a Heartland Dental Clinic

Heartland Dental has bought the cosmetic dental center – Goldstein, Garber and Salama in Atlanta. Goldstein, Garber and Salama also offers online education, via DentalXP, which including lectures, videos, courses and production information.

Run for the hills patients and doctors. If you are messing around with Goldstein, Garber and Salama or DentalXP you are playing with fire.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/heartland-dental-care-affiliates-with-the-leading-atlanta-dentist-goldstein-garber-and-salama-llc-185048191.html

In other Heartland Dental News -

S & P rates Heartland at a B- plus.

Dekalb Dental Group may be robbing you (don’t miss comment #164)

Dr. Walter Dawkins gets a year and a day, maybe the shaft as well.

Dr. Roy Shelburne received 2 years in prison (served 19 months) and Drs. Michael and Eddie DeRose got a football stadium.

Dr. Robin Lockwood received 18 months in prison – Dr. Chad Brandon Hoecker got a private jet, lavish lifestyle and near death experience.

Sixty year old, Dr. Walter Dawkins got a year and a day in jail, then 3 years probation – Dr. Richard Malouf got a sprawling mansion with a lazy river, water park and bowling lanes.

Money talks.

 

Dentist sentenced to year in prison for fraud

Published 3:15 am, Saturday, December 22, 2012

Read more: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/crime/article/Ill-dentist-sentenced-to-year-in-prison-for-fraud-4140164.php#ixzz2FtSmJRHG

BENTON, IL (AP) — A southern Illinois dentist has been ordered to spend one year and a day in federal prison for defrauding Medicaid and illegally distributing a prescription painkiller.

Sixty-year-old Walter Dawkins of Fairfield was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court in Benton.

Dawkins pleaded guilty in September to felony counts of fraud involving a health-care program and unlawfully distributing the controlled substance hydrocodone.

Federal prosecutors say the offenses involved hundreds of prescriptions written outside the course of Dawkins' medical practice.

Dawkins also was sentenced to a $900 fine and three years of post-prison supervised release. He also must reimburse the Illinois Medicaid program.

This “corporate structure” Kool Smiles graphic is too funny for words

I suppose since not a soul can get in front of a legislative body (i.e. Diane Earle at Texas Hearing) and explain the lies, they figured a picture might do the trick.

The fact they need this speaks volumes! Imagine the fun one could have with this thing. Just saying.

Don’t miss the interactive flags over at their website. It’s a hoot! Just mouse over each red flag in the various departments for NCDR’s explanation of each one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Bullsh*$

NCDR provides Kool Smiles with state-of-the-art software that runs scheduling, ... NCDR's IT department assists Kool Smiles dentists, hygienists, and office staff.

http://www.koolsmilesfacts.com/corporate-structure/

Remember Kool Smiles Regional Director – Diane Earle Texas Hearing October 15, 2012

East Naples Florida practicing dentistry out of his apartment

Two thing I thought when I read this:

1. Suddenly some state is concerned with sanitation??  OMG!
2. Is in home dental offices in our near future to escape the corporate dental care? Hey, as long as they are licensed, have the equipment and supplies they prefer instead of the cheap shit dentists are forced to use by corporate idiots, I’d be a patient.

Man accused of performing dentistry without license

 

Staff Reports

Friday, December 21, 2012

An East Naples man who has been practicing dentistry out of his apartment is not actually a dentist, according to Collier County sheriff's deputies.

Detectives got wind that Luis Fernando Suarez-Paz, 51, was taking patients at his apartment at 108 Santa Clara Drive, reports said. Last week, an undercover deputy set up an appointment with Suarez-Paz to be examined because of a toothache. The undercover deputy was taken into a small room in the apartment with a reclining chair, dental instruments and a dental exam light, according to an arrest report.

Suarez-Paz examined the deputy, told her to get x-rays taken "at a real dentist office" and then bring them back to have a root canal performed. Suarez-Paz said the exam was free but the root canal would cost $350 over four visits, reports said.

Detectives found no record for Suarez-Paz with the state's department of health and could not find a medical or dental license issued for him in Florida.

On Thursday, deputies executed a search warrant and found "a very dirty and unhygienic environment that had outward appearances of a dental office," reports said.

Suarez-Paz faces charges of practicing dental hygiene without an active license and operation of a dental office by a non-licensed person.

What’s happening at your clinic after hours?

 

 

Fake dentist arrested, says Montgomery County DA

Author: 69 News, (follow: @69news), news@wfmz.com

Published On: Dec 17 2012 03:19:44 PM EST
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Cheryl Laing and Jessica Gullickson, both of Broomall, Pa., were arrested after an investigation into the unauthorized practice of dentistry at the “Smilz 4 Life” dental office located on Old Lancaster Avenue in the Bryn Mawr section of Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman and Lower Merion Police Superintendent Michael J. McGrath announced on Monday.

Laing and Gullickson are charged with Corrupt Organizations, Criminal Conspiracy, multiple counts of Theft by Deception, Unauthorized Practice of Dentistry and Recklessly Endangering Another Person.

The investigation, which was assisted by the Montgomery County Investigative Grand Jury, revealed that during regular office hours, Laing was employed as a dental assistant at Smilz 4 Life. The practice was operated by a licensed dentist. After business hours, Laing set up her own dental practice at Smilz 4 Life while holding herself out to patients as a licensed dentist.

A special Christmas blessing goes out to the orthodontists who have volunteered to see these victimized children!

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.

 

The loons I deal with

Below is a direct Email from some loose cannon who thinks is due my time - calling itself Donna Valens dvsee1982@gmail.com.
You are so NOT normal in any capacity of the word. Cowardly rant? Since when is asking someone a question and giving them the chance to back up their crazy statement a cowardly rant. You could REALLY benefit from the dictionary.com tool. You are an idiot. I am done here. YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION! YOU CAN'T

Heartland Dental $650 Million in Buyout Loans Rise

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-12-20/heartland-dental-s-650-million-of-buyout-loans-rise-in-trading

After 18 months of reporting, WFAA’s Byron Harris reports; black market for Medicaid Dental patients is going strong

Thank you Phyllis Gonzales! You are one brave woman! We need more Phyllis Gonzales’ that’s for sure.

WFAA
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:13 PM
Updated today at 9:01 AM

NEWS 8 INVESTIGATES

The black market for Medicaid Dental patients is going strong, despite the state’s tightening of the payment system for providing dental care to poor children.

Phyllis Gonzales said she was paid more than $1,000 by 1-Stop Dental in Hurst over a two-month period. In exchange, she said she brought about 60 kids and their parents to the dentist’s office.

There, she said parents got between $20 and $35 for switching their children to the dentist working there.

It’s illegal to pay a parent to switch dentists under Medicaid, according to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.

The 1-Stop story came to News 8’s attention because of flyers stuck under car windshield wipers at DART station parking lots.

“The policy was basically to bring as many patients as possible,” Gonzales said. “The payment [to Gonzales] was $10 per child, with bonuses of $100 once you reached ten children."