Another Phoenix child abused by an crooked dentist.

As readers of this blog knows, it’s much more serious than this story has lead anyone to believe. Dr. Richard Chaet is a huge part of the problem and should be ashamed!

This reporter drank the Kool Aid and note the greedy dentist’s who did this didn’t get his name mentioned. I bet the reporter isn't buying what Dr. Chaet is selling any longer.

 

 

by Gary Harper

Bio | Email | Follow: @GaryHarper3TV

See all 11 photos »

PHOENIX -- A Valley mom took her daughter in for some routine dental work, but the mom said there was nothing routine about the procedure.

At first, Alecia White thought a mistake had been made so she tried to get some answers. When White didn't, she contacted 3 On Your Side.

White has two beautiful and healthy children, Zach and his little sister Savannah.

"They're my everything," she said. "They're my entire world."
On a recent trip to the dentist, White discovered that little Savannah had four cavities. So, White allowed the dentist to fill them.

"They took her back and I was allowed to go back when they sedated her and after she was sedated, they had me go back out to the waiting room," White said.
White brought her groggy, little girl home when the procedure was done and let her take a nap. However, when Savannah woke up and White looked in her mouth, she saw that every single tooth, top and bottom, were capped with stainless-steel crowns.

 

Dentist acquitted of Medicaid fraud cannot pursue a defamation claim against prosecutors.

 

Defamation claim dismissed over prosecutors' press release

January 10, 2013
By Jessica Dye

NEW YORK, Jan 10 (Reuters) - A dentist acquitted of Medicaid fraud cannot pursue a defamation claim against prosecutors whom he claimed falsified information in a press release announcing his indictment, a Brooklyn federal judge ruled Thursday.

Brooklyn dentist Leonard Morse was ultimately acquitted of the fraud in 2007. He then sued current and former members of the New York attorney general's office over the indictment and the press release, which announced he had been charged in a "million dollar Medicaid fraud."

In a ruling from the bench, Chief U.S. District Judge Carol Amon said Morse had not shown the press release was false, a necessary element of a defamation claim, as well as two other claims Morse brought in connection with the release.

"A showing of falsity is critical for these claims," Amon said in granting the attorney general office's motion to dismiss the claims.

Sentinel Capital Partners has played big role in DSO cancer spreading across the states

In an article dated January 4, 2011, AltAssets published a story about Sentinel Capital Partners.  It had been announced Sentinel Capital had acquired Chase Doors on the same day it unloaded ReachOut Healthcare. If I remember correctly this is where Morgan Stanley stepped in, with the help and assistance of R. Kirk Huntsman. 

As what usually happens in these type of things, a little history is given; that is where the bodies are found buried.

---

January 4, 2011

 

Lower mid-market private equity firm Sentinel Capital Partners has acquired US door manufacturer Chase Doors, on the same day that it announced the sale of dental support service ReachOut Healthcare America.

In both cases, financial terms were undisclosed.

Chase Doors, founded in 1932, produces specialty door systems employed in a variety of industrial and commercial settings including corrosion-resistant doors used for hazardous material handling; cold storage doors used in walk-in freezers and refrigerators; double impact traffic doors used in supermarkets and restaurants; and strip and roll-up doors used in warehouses.

The company’s revenues are evenly distributed across new construction, remodeling and replacement, and maintenance in the retail, industrial, pharmaceutical, food processing and markets.

“One of Sentinel’s areas of focus is branded, niche manufacturing businesses,” said Scott Perry, a vice president at Sentinel.

“Our previous investments in the niche manufacturing sector have given us a keen understanding of how to foster growth for businesses like Chase and financial guidance that positions our team to enhance Chase’s current market position while continuing to grow.”

New York-based Sentinel’s investments in other specialty niche manufacturing businesses include pressure regulator provider Engineered Controls International, industrial lubrication equipment maker Alemite, and Fasloc, which produces roof support systems used in underground mines.

• ReachOut, which the firm has just sold, provides a diagnostic, preventative, and restorative dental services to underserved children in schools and foster programs, the aged and disabled in residential facilities, and to US Army National Guard units.
• Sentinel made its initial investment in the company in 2007 in partnership with its two founders.
• In 2008, ReachOut acquired its largest competitor, Mobile Dentists, acquiring Georgia-based Help A Child Smile in early 2010.
• Today, (January 2011) ReachOut operates in 25 states and provides dental care to more than 425,000 underprivileged children, seniors, and military personnel each year.

“It has been extremely rewarding to work with the ReachOut and Mobile Dentists management teams,” said David Lobel, managing partner at Sentinel.

• “ReachOut is now firmly established as a powerful growth platform that delivers critical dental care to large and underserved segments of the population. We are proud to be affiliated with a business that not only has done well for its investors, but also provides a greatly needed healthcare service.”
• “We are fortunate to have enjoyed considerable success investing in the dental industry and will continue to seek new dental investment opportunities in the future,” said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel.
• In the past, Sentinel has taken stakes in Castle Dental Centers, sold to Bright Now! Dental in 2004, and Metro Dentalcare, sold to American Dental Partners, in 2007.

Plea Agreements Reached by Two Dentists Admitting to Fraud

 

 

Dentist admits fraud charges

By Gordon Dritschilo
Staff Writer | January 12,2013

A Rutland dentist has admitted to billing the government for fake procedures.
Dr. Peter Gray pleaded guilty Friday in Rutland criminal court to four of the 23 charges against him — two felony fraud charges and two misdemeanor charges of false pretense — in a Medicaid fraud case.

The remaining 19 charges are expected to be dropped at sentencing.
Gray’s plea agreement with the Vermont attorney general’s office calls for a sentence of six months to six years in prison, suspended with probation except for 110 days of home confinement. Sentencing is scheduled for late February.
“The resources being what they are, this provided a certainty of a felony conviction and provides protection for the public,” said Assistant Attorney General Linda Purdy.

While Gray will not go to jail under the deal, Purdy said, home confinement is considered a form of incarceration.

“It’s really not as nice as it sounds,” she said, noting that the conditions of his confinement must be approved by the Vermont Department of Corrections. “Nonviolent crimes, money crimes like this, people do not get incarcerated.”

Purdy also said there were “collateral consequences,” such as a five-year prohibition against working in any practice that receives Medicare, Medicaid or Tri-Care funds, and the likelihood that the Vermont Board of Dental Examiners, which has already seen fit to suspend Gray before, could take action against him.
Gray is also required to pay $50,000 in restitution. Purdy said the state had put a hold on roughly $80,000 in Medicaid claims Gray made and that the restitution will be taken from those funds.

Gray’s attorney, Kerry DeWolfe of Barre, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Friday afternoon.

The charges were the result of a 2010 investigation in which prosecutors said Gray repeatedly bilked the Medicaid system by billing for phony procedures. Investigators said Gray claimed to be removing cysts from patients when he was unnecessarily removing healthy tissue.

Gray has another case pending in Rutland criminal court — a lewd and lascivious conduct charge stemming from a claim that he took advantage of a female patient who was under anesthesia. Purdy said the fraud case should have no bearing on the lewd and lascivious case.

Question to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott

I demand an explanation why not one dentist is in jail for kidnapping children right off the street and taking them for medical treatment - without a parents consent - before being released.
At the very least the van driver should be jailed!
I'm sure there must be a good legal explanation or surely someone's ass would be in a jail cell down there. Also I'm curious in what other instances is it legal to kidnap children in the Great State of Texas!!
Please point to the law that allows for the kidnapping of minors for medical treatment.

Also is there a minimum age or social status on legal kidnapping for medical treatment. For instance would the kidnapping of Richard Malouf's child for medical treatment be as acceptable as it is for Juan Valdez's child? This is a question that needs to be asked and citizens deserve an answer!

Thank you very much,
Debbie Hagan

The Phew (Pew) Institute latest greatest

In 5 plus years of watching the dental profession continuously reach all new lows, the Pew Institute never disappoints in its complicity. 

Every year, in January and February – sometimes well into March – The Phew (Pew) Institute issues some research or report - usually landing them an audience on Capitol Hill – in which they give reason and need for the latest and greatest scam cooked up by the dental community. This year is no different.

For the last several months I’ve been inundated with information about the “Sealant” scam and how it’s being used to inflate profits while endangering dental health of children. While many may believe this blog is laser focused on papoose boards and stainless steel crowns, don’t be fooled, I hear about ALL kinds of scams!

While I’m going to leave the reporting of the “Sealant Scam” to the professional news people, I’m going to say there is one and the Phew Institute is once again showing evidence of how it they give the scam a façade of legitimacy. Amazing how every time Pew and the scams correlate.

The Phew Report for 2013

Many States are Missing an Opportunity to Prevent Tooth Decay and Reduce Medicaid and Other Health-related Costs

• Contact Matt Jacob 202.540.6310

January 8, 2013
Pew’s 50-state report finds that most states are not doing enough to use a proven strategy for preventing tooth decay, unnecessarily driving up health care costs for families and taxpayers. 

Introduction: Grading the States

In both 2010 and 2011, the Pew Children’s Dental Campaign released reports grading all 50 states and the District of Columbia on children’s dental health, relying on eight evidence-based policies that cover prevention, financing, and workforce issues. However, this year, Pew’s 50-state report focuses on prevention, examining states’ efforts to improve access to sealants for low-income kids.

Texas tries to crack down on dental chains that put profits ahead of patients

 

By David Heathemail

January 8, 2013

A leading Republican in the Texas legislature, who says she’s outraged by allegations that corporate dental chains put profits ahead of patients, has introduced a bill that would allow the state to regulate chains and forbid them from forcing dentists to meet revenue quotas.

A joint investigation by the Center for Public Integrity and PBS Frontline last summer found that two of the largest dental chains owned by private-equity firms, Aspen Dental Management and Kool Smiles, put pressure on its dentists to meet production goals, prompting complaints of overbilling and unnecessary treatments.

Both companies deny this. And a coalition of dental chains in Texas contends that their dentists have total control over patient care. But the chief sponsor of the bill remains skeptical.

“Several reports, including the Frontline program, have uncovered outrageous activities involving the illegal enticement of patients, especially among our Medicaid providers and often involving dental service organizations,” said Republican Sen. Jane Nelson, who chairs the Senate’s Health & Human Services committee.

Nelson did not name a specific chain. Aspen Dental does not accept Medicaid and has no offices in Texas. But Kool Smiles has clinics throughout Texas, and public records show that the state Attorney General has been investigating Kool Smiles for Medicaid fraud.

Read the entire story at Center for Public Integrity

WARNING to Scotland County, North Carolina Health Department

Apparently Scotland County, North Carolina and it’s Health Department hasn’t gotten the memo about Reachout Healthcare America, Morgan Stanley Private Equity and Elliot P. Schlang, DDS.

What I’m concerned about is this “partnership” between Reachout Healthcare America (RHA) and the Scotland County Department of Public Health. Teaming up with an income motivated private equity firm and ANY department of public health seems to be a VERY bad idea!

Someone needs to warn the county about who they are jumping in bed with. At the very least they should be warned about the astronomical number of  cancer causing X-Rays these children will be subjected to; you know the staff has to make that daily production goal!

 

Mobile dental clinic returns

by Staff report

01.04.13 - 12:01 am

The mobile dentist program — Smile North Carolina — will return to Scotland County three times over the next three months.

The Scotland County Department of Public Health will host the first session on Jan. 9. The dental team will be at the county health department AT 1405 West Blvd. in Laurinburg from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 3 p.m.

There are also visits planned for Feb. 13, and March 12.

Children from 12 months to 18 years of age are eligible for the preventive dental services provided by this program.

“The Smile Program will continue to collaborate with our agency to provide dental care to children under 18 years old” said Cardra Burns, WIC program director at Scotland County Department of Public Health.

Smile North Carolina teams include a licensed dentist and registered dental hygienists. The team will provide and complete all paperwork as a state mandated requirement for the dental exam and provide permission forms in English and Spanish and letters to the parent for every child.

Dental referrals are provided by Smile North Carolina if additional dental work is needed.

Most dental insurances, including Medicaid, cover 100 percent of the services that are provided by Smile North Carolina. For those children without dental coverage, charity care services are available with a parent’s signature on a charity care application. No proof of financial status is asked, health officials said.

Smile North Carolina has been coordinating dental care to children, families, and communities for almost 15 years and is OSHA and HIPAA compliant.

Burns said about 132 Scotland County children have received dental care since June 2012.

In the wake of Sen. Nelson’s Bill introduced in Texas, two of the worst DSO’s rush to self-promote

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.

Destroying evidence? Shredding documents? Alerting records? You might want to reconsider participating in such action by ANY employer.

December 17, 12012 -United States District Judge Robert G. Doumar sentenced Lynette Smith of Suffolk, VA to 10 months in prison for altering records to conceal Medicaid fraud  The fraud was committed by A Caring Hand Home Health Care Services, Inc. between January 2008 through October 2011. A Caring Hand is owned and operated by Janice W. Holland.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae/news/2012/12/20121217smithnr.html

“Holland submitted to the program approximately 900 fraudulent claims for payment representing that respite care services had been provided to thirty (30) Medicaid recipients, when in fact no such services had actually been provided.  As a result, Holland obtained health care benefit payments totaling approximately $630,000 to which she was not entitled. 

During the period from in or about September 2010 through October 6, 2011, Holland and Smith, and members of the staff of A Caring Hand at their direction, altered, falsified and made false entries in the office records of A Caring Hand to conceal and cover up the fact that Holland had submitted false and fraudulent claims for payment to the Virginia Medicaid program.  On multiple occasions, Holland and Smith met with staff members and directed them to alter, falsify and make false entries into office records, including the creation of false and fraudulent time sheets, in order to make it appear that the respite care services for which Holland had billed the program had actually occurred, when in fact they knew that no such services had been provided.  Approximately twelve staff members knowingly committed the alteration and falsification of office records at the direction of Holland and Smith, who were aware of an upcoming scheduled audit of the office records.  Holland and Smith committed these acts with the intent to impede, obstruct and influence the proper administration of the Virginia Medicaid program, which is a matter within the jurisdiction of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Holland has pled guilty to health care fraud, alteration of records and aggravated identity theft, and will be sentenced on January 22, 2013.”