If only there could be a dental mill clinic crises. Like the one in the housing market; saturated with empty dental mill clinics. Now there is a buyers assistance program I could support.
As one dentist recently said, “When the money for general dentists doing the small kids disappears, the mills will be gone. There are 4 dentists on every corner. Being a practice broker is where the money will be when these mills close down.”
I can dream.
Had I read this in 2007 or even 2008 I might have believed the whole scenario laid out in the lawsuit between Park Dental Group and American Dental Partners. But knowing what I know today I think it’s a case of “owner dentists” going rogue, but I could be completely wrong.
In 2007 a Minnesota jury awarded a group of dentist $130 million dollars. The group alleged American Dental Partners, Inc. had overstepped its bounds when it came to the treatment of their patients. Disappointingly, the jury failed to address the claims of a corporation/non-dentist practicing dentistry without a license. However I suspect one could say the monetary award spoke volumes.
Star Tribune
December 13, 2007
In a landmark verdict likely to draw praise from those opposed to the growing corporate presence in medicine, a jury ordered a Massachusetts company to pay $130.6 million to a group of Twin Cities dentists who claim the company interfered with their delivery of care to patients.
A Hennepin County jury ruled Wednesday in favor of PDG PA, a professional association of 115 dentists who operate the Park Dental and Dental Specialist clinics. The dentists had accused American Dental Partners Inc., a public company to which they had outsourced most of the administrative side of the business, of overstepping its legal authority and granting itself grossly excessive fees.
[I’m wondering exactly what that grossly amount was, 100% as with CSHM]
The ruling and the mammoth award will have far-reaching implications for thousands of clinics and hospitals nationwide that in recent years have outsourced the management of their business operations to corporations that aren't owned by medical professionals, industry analysts said.
"It puts in sharp relief the tension that exists in the health care industry over who controls the practice of medicine and dentistry," said Joseph Anthony, an attorney with Anthony, Ostlund & Baer, which represented the dentists. "Will it be the doctors or will it be non-doctor-trained service providers?"
After a month long trial, American Dental and a subsidiary were found liable for, among other charges, breach of contract, breach of good faith and defamation. Late Wednesday, the jury ordered the company to pay $88.3 million in damages, then added $42.3 million in punitive damages on Thursday.
American Dental, based in Wakefield, Mass., said in a written statement that it is evaluating the verdict. Officials did not return repeated telephone calls. Shares of the company tumbled Thursday to $4.62 a share from $14.34 a share a day earlier.
The verdict stems from a dispute over a 1996 agreement in which an American Dental subsidiary, PDHC Ltd., agreed to provide the dentists with money for expansion as well as "non-dental administrative services," such as accounting, lab services and equipment maintenance. In return, the dentists agreed to pay a portion of their billing revenue to American Dental in the form of a "service fee."
[Honestly, I’ve got to give a huge thumbs up to whom ever “spun” this one. There are lessons to be learned here, I’m sure]
Remember last year when it was revealed a VA clinic in Ohio was using less than sterile conditions. There was an uproar!
Well, the dental lab technician who blew the whistle on died Saturday in a one car accident.
By Thomas Gnau, Staff Writer Updated 10:37 AM Sunday, October 16, 2011
BEAVERCREEK — A dental lab technician who helped call attention to poor infection-control practices at the Dayton VA Medical Center last year was killed in a one-car accident in Beavercreek Saturday morning.
Wallace “Ray” Perdue of Fairborn was killed after the car he was driving left the road and struck a tree in the 2200 block of Kemp Road, just west of Beaver Valley Road, at 11:54 a.m. Saturday, according to Beavercreek police. He was 45. Police said he died at the scene.
His wife, Sherry Perdue, was also in the car. She was examined at Miami Valley Hospital after the crash, then discharged on Saturday, a hospital spokesperson said.
The Perdues, along with a third whistle-blower, told VA inspectors in the summer of 2010 about dentist Dr. Dwight Pemberton’s failure to sterilize instruments and change latex gloves between seeing patients.
In the aftermath of the Perdues’ allegations coming to light, the VA closed its Dayton dental clinic for three weeks and offered testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV to 535 former patients of Pemberton’s.
Demonstrating their ruthless style of business-preying on the most vulnerable of citizens-Church Street Health Management is continuing to SLAPP a Kentucky grandma for voicing her continued dislike of the company’s business practices,
In 2008 Church Street Heath Management, LLC- then known as FORBA Holdings, LLC- brought a first amendment lawsuit, referred to as a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) against one of their many critics.
In January 2010, Church Street Health Management agreed to pay upwards to $30Mil to settle allegations of abusing children, overtreatment and Medicaid Fraud. CSHM was also forced to sign a “Quality of Care” “Corporate Integrity Agreement” with the Department of Health and Human Services.
Being the “low hanging fruit”, CSHM and their corporate owners, the Carlyle Group, First Islamic Bank-now known as Arcapita Bank and American Capital Strategies, have once again brought this unrepresented grandmother of 9 back to court in Western Kentucky.
On October 17, 2011 at 10AM a hearing will be held in Federal Court. CSHM has motioned the court to find grandma in Contempt of Court; asking the retired grandma to be fined $10,000 and pay an exorbitant amount of legal fees. In their court pleadings, CSHM mentions possible jail time as a remedy to satisfy their intent to suppress grandma’s 1st Amendment rights to free speech.
CSHM also wants the court to force grandma to reveal the identity of current or former employees with whom she has had contact. Doubtful it’s to pat any of those person’s on the head for doing such a good job in keeping them honest.
November 2008 Original Complaint - FORBA v Hagan
December 2008 -CSHM's 1st request for Santions 2008(denied)
April 2009 – CSHM’s Motion to Dismiss (granted)
July 2011 CSHM Motion for Sanctions
July 2011 Declaration of Todd Cruse
July 2011 Memorandum in Support of Sanctions
September 2011 Grandma's Combined Response to CSHM’s Motion for Sanctions and Motion to Dismiss
September 2011 Grandma's Memorandum in support
Church Street Health Management, LLC is located in Nashville, Tennessee at:618 Church St # 520
Nashville, TN 37219-2457
(615) 750-0306
Members and Officers of the Church Street Health Management, LLC are:
Officers:
Michael Lindley-Chairman & CFO
Rodney Cawood-EVP & Chief Financial Officer
Al J. Smith- President, COO and Secretary
Members:
Dr. Steve Adair
Bret Bero – American Capital.
Scott A. Buschmann – Arcapita Bank
Stockton Croft – Arcapita Bank
Charles L. Griffith – Arcapita Bank
Susan B. Kasser- Carlyle Group
Douglas Kelley – American Capital
Michael G. Lindley – Small Smiles Holding, LLC
William C. Miller, Jr – Arcapita Bank
Al J. Smith – Small Smiles Holding, LLC
Arcapita Bank is headquartered in Bahrain, while the Carlyle Group is the third largest private investment group in the world with assets of $150 billion dollars. In March 2008, Carlyle Capital Corporation defaulted on about US$ 16.6 billion of debt as the global credit crunch brought about by the subprime mortgage crisis worsened for leveraged investors. (Wikipedia)
American Dental Partners, Inc. ( NASDQ: ADPI) Lawsuits thru June 2011
Stockholder Litigation
On or about February 22 and 23, 2010, Special Situations Fund III L.P., Special Situations Cayman Fund, L.P., and Special Situations Fund III Q.P., L.P. excluded themselves from the class action settlement resolving consolidated actions entitled “In re American Dental Partners, Inc. Securities Litigation,” civil action number 1:08-CV-10119-RGS, and filed an opt-out complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, against us and certain of our executive officers, entitled “Special Situations Fund III, L.P. et al. v. American Dental Partners, Inc. et al.,” civil action number 1:10-CV-10331, which we refer to as the Opt-Out Action.
The Opt-Out Action complaint (i) asserts that the plaintiffs purchased over 500,000 shares of our common stock during the period of February 25, 2004 through December 13, 2007; (ii) alleges that we and certain of our executive officers violated the federal securities laws, in particular, Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, by making allegedly material misrepresentations and failing to disclose allegedly material facts concerning the lawsuit by Park Dental Group against our subsidiary, PDHC, Ltd., entitled PDG, P.A. v. PDHC, Ltd., Civ. A. Nos. 27-CV-06-2500 and 27-CV-07-13030, filed in the Fourth Judicial District of Hennepin County, Minnesota on February 3, 2006 and conduct at issue in that action during the period of February 25, 2004 through December 13, 2007, which had the effect of artificially inflating the market price of our common stock; (iii) asserts control person claims under Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act against the executive officers named as defendants; and (iv) claims that certain of the alleged misrepresentations also violated Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act.
The plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of monetary damages, costs and attorneys’ fees and any other relief the Court deems proper. We are unable to provide a range of potential damages with respect to this action.
On June 11, 2010, we and the other defendants filed a motion to dismiss the Opt-Out Action. On March 31, 2011, the Court denied the motion to dismiss with respect to the Section 10(b) and Section 20(a) claims, but granted the motion to dismiss with respect to the Section 18 claim. We intend to defend ourselves vigorously with respect to this matter.
October 12, 2011
By JOE GORMAN - reporter (jgorman@tribtoday.com) , Tribune Chronicle | TribToday.com
YOUNGSTOWN - An Idlewood Avenue woman reportedly unhappy with work on her tooth was arraigned Tuesday in Municipal Court on accusations that she pulled her dentist's hair and wouldn't let go.
Cassandra Allen, 21, was arraigned on two counts of assault. Judge Elizabeth Kobly set bond at $10,000, as well as ordering that Allen have no contact with the Small Smile Dental Center on Mahoning Avenue or any of its employees.
Police reports state that Allen went to the office about 9 a.m. Monday, upset over some work done on her tooth. A dentist tried to help her, but several times during the process, Allen complained, the report states.
WTNH TV
Updated: Tuesday, 11 Oct 2011, 4:42 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 11 Oct 2011, 4:42 PM EDT
New Haven, Conn. (WTNH) - A New Haven dentist is paying over $200,000 for making false claims for services provided at her dental office.
Kristi Rossomando, D.M.D and her dental practice, The Children's Dental Group, P.C., located at 825 Grand Avenue, have entered into a civil settlement in which they will pay $212,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the federal and state False Claims Acts.
Also, the high profile dentist and Chief of Pediatric Dentistry at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, Dr. Elan Kaufman billed the family’s insurance company for 5 visits on their 3 year old child whom he has never seen. Dr. Elan Kaufman had never looked inside the child’s mouth-he should not even have a chart or medical record of any kind on this child. Parents say the child had not been past the waiting room!
Records say in 2009 he did 6 filings on the child- when the child was only one year old. According to all the bills submitted on the child he had never seen the 3 year old had been seen 5 times and should currently have a total of 14 fillings. He also billed for cleanings and fluoride treatment.
Fox 5 took the child to another prominent dentist for examination. Not only did the child have NO fillings, she had NO cavities. Troubling to me is the fact the dentist wanted his identity to remain a secret. Typical and 99.9% of the problem in my opinion. Everyone wants to remain anonymous!!
Dr. Kaufman blames the “mistake” on staff, calling it a “clerical error”. HA!
Anyone want to guess what procedures he billed out in 2011, that caused the family to max out it’s benefits with Delta Dental?
It was the “soup of the day”- Pulpotomies (Baby Root Canals) and Stainless Steel Crowns. I know, I know…
Wednesday September 28, 2011
Fox 5 reporter Arnold Diaz
The serious problems with the dental community is not limited to the US.
The Health Service Ombudsman, Ann Abraham, has named a Staffordshire dentist who has repeatedly ignored calls from professional bodies to apologize to a patient following her complaint. This is the first time Ms Abraham has published a report specifically to alert Parliament to a health care professional’s refusal to put things right following a complaint.
Ms Abraham’s report sets out the findings of her investigation of the patient’s complaint about dentist Rajesh Narendranath (known as Mr Nath), of Stone Family Dental Practice in Stone, Staffordshire. The patient, Mrs D, complained that Mr Nath had been rough and had hurt her while trying to take x-rays, and also that he had been rude to her when she had objected. She described leaving the appointment feeling ‘battered emotionally and in more pain’.
Children picked up and escorted to dentist office for orthodontic treatment when dentist was not even in the state.
Dollars are scarcely available to treat children who are in very serious and real need, yet hundreds of millions freely distributed for unnecessary and useless braces on children in the Medicaid system.
These are just two of the allegations in the latest installment from Byron Harris of WFAA-TV in Dallas.
by BYRON HARRIS
Bio | Email
WFAA
Taxpayers spent $13 million on orthodontic transportation | wfaa.com Dallas - Fort Worth
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 11:42 PM
Last year, Texas taxpayers spent $184 million so kids on Medicaid could get free braces. Taxpayers did not just pay orthodontists for doing work many in the middle class consider a luxury. Under Medicaid, the public spent $13 million on orthodontic transportation.
Children got picked up, taken to orthodontists' offices, had their braces installed or worked on and were taken home again. Medicaid pays for up to 26 trips per patient. Many experts say that's evidence of a well-intentioned program gone wrong.
In his office in Dallas, Dr. Deji Fashemo looks at a three-dimensional photo of a child who badly needs orthodontic help. It is a mouth so crammed with teeth it's painful to look at. So in need of structural repair, the patient can hardly open to brush his teeth.
What does Michael Dell, the CEO of Dell computers know about root canals?
Word coming out of Colorado today is the Dental One clinic in Mountain, Colorado might be in some trouble. Rumor has it the District Attorney in Monument, Colorado is investigation billing fraud allegations.
Dental One operates 14 practices in Colorado including
Jackson Creek Dental Care
15854 Jackson Creek Parkway
Suite 140
Monument, CO 80132
719-302-2200
Dental One is based in Dallas, Texas
DentalOne Partners - Dallas
17300 Dallas Parkway
Suite 1070
Dallas, Texas 75248
Dental One
Dental One says it's an advisory company that owns clinics in various states.
Dental One, Inc
Dental Care Partners, Inc
Dental One Partners is a trademark owned by Dental One, Inc and refers to dental practices serviced by either Dental Care Partners, Inc or Dental One, Inc.
Dental Works – refers to dental practices serviced by Dental Care Partners, Inc
DentalOne Partners - Dallas
17300 Dallas Parkway
Suite 1070
Dallas, Texas 75248
Phone: 972-755-0800
Fax: 972-755-0890
Email: dallas.office@dentalonepartners.com
March 2007 – Purchased by North Peak Capital, LLC a subsidiary of MSD Capital, LP (MSD=Michael and Susan Dell, CEO, Dell Computers
I’m hoping this takes root, as it seems it has, and continues across the country. C’mon parents, stand up for your children.
Here is the story of another protest, this time at Dr. Dove’s Chatsworth, California.
Critics allege crying kids were hit - LA Daily News
CHATSWORTH - Angry parents demonstrated Friday outside the office of a pediatric dentist, accusing him of hitting young patients who cried and pulling teeth without proper sedation.
Picketing outside the Devonshire Street office of Dr. Edward E. Dove, more than a half-dozen mothers, grandmothers and others claimed that Dove mistreated children during visits and barred parents from being at their kids' side during procedures.
Janice Tucker, left, and Brooke Catalfamo demonstrate Dr. Edward Dove's pediatric dental office in Chatsworth on Friday, Sept. 30, 2011. Several parents who believe their children were mistreated by the dentist gathered outside his office to let others know their stories. (Andy Holzman/Daily News Staff Photographer)
"We're just here trying to protect other innocent children," said Brooke Catalfamo, of Reseda, who said Dove slapped her 5-year-old son in the face when he cried.
Another group held a similar protest recently outside Dove's office in Bakersfield, and critics have launched a Facebook page to detail complaints.
Central KY Commercial Real Estate Blog: NAI Isaac Brings Kool Smiles Dentistry to Elizabethtown, KY
WARNING to Elizabethtown, Kentucky residents; it looks like you are about to become the unwitting prey of a Kool Smiles dental center.
Danger to your children awaits. Remember the dental mill mantra “Patients may be hard to increase, but billable procedures are not!” Creative dentistry at its best.
I feel Kool Smiles operates illegally in Kentucky under the statues of a Professional Service Corporation (PSC) where by the person owning and directing the “professional service” must be licensed by the “professional” board of the state, in this case the Kentucky Board of Dentistry and the person MUST perform those services. KRS 313.060 (3) no person shall conduct dental practice in their name unless he or she personally performs services as a dentist is such office. Not less then 1/2 of the officers of a PSC and ALL of the officers other than the secretary and the treasurer shall be qualified persons to perform the professional services. See KRS 274.027 and 274.045
Why the KY Dental Board ignores its own laws, rules and regulations is beyond me.
See many more Kool Smiles reports by clicking here.
Today, Chris Cook, the father who created the Facebook page exposing the atrocities of Dr. Edward Dove of Bakersfield, California made an appearance on the Scott Cox, radio program. Scott Cox is on KERN Newstalk Radio in Bakersfield.
Chris has also created a Petition asking parents to people to sign and plans to pass it along to the California Dental Board.
You can sign the petition here.
Pictures are from the latest protest of Dr. Dove.
You can join Chris’s Facebook group here.
Friday is Conscious Sedation day at Dr. Dove’s. A protest has been planned Friday, September 30 · 6:30am - 2:00pm at the Chatsworth Office
Edward Dove's Chatsworth Office
20523 Devonshire St
Chatsworth, CA
Dear Regional Manager,
This letter is in regards to the production levels of Dr. F. As you know the clinic was approximately $500 away in production from the $300/3000 Bonus for the month. This is one of MANY examples of Dr. F not completing the majority of the treatment on the patients she sees on a daily basis. The patient, RH, was seen on 12-1-2010 by Dr. F and the only treatment done was a facial composite on the #C and the rest of the treatment to be performed was dismissed because the patient was nervous and he wanted the dental visit to be easy.As you can see, Dr. X Ray Fraud would have done all the extractions had mom not spoken up and refused.
The clinic missed out on the possible $425.96 of production because he wanted to make the visit EASY? I find this very upsetting because I strive to work at my full potential and lead by example to my fellow doctors and employees to work hard regardless if I want to make a dental appointment easy.
If I wanted to make the appointment easy for every nervous patient, I believe a strong majority of our parents would be upset that they would have to continuously keep coming back because the patient was nervous. RH was my patient today and I completed the majority of the treatment except the extractions (per mom) and yes the patient was initially nervous, but did great for the injections and treatment. In conclusion, my question is how many more patients are to be dismissed or partial work completed because they were nervous and how many production goals must be compromised because of Dr. F’s lack of effort?
Sincerely,
Dr. X Ray Fraud
by BYRON HARRIS
Bio | Email
WFAA
Posted on September 23, 2011 at 11:15 PM
WFAA's Byron Harris has investigated dental organizations that have charged the government millions for children's braces. Here is the latest from the on-going News 8 investigation which includes a statement from Texas attorney, Jim Moriarty.
E-mail bharris@wfaa.com
This goes out to any Small Smiles or Church Street Health Management employees.
The Office of Inspector General and Health and Human Services take Corporate Integrity Agreements seriously, especially Quality of Care CIA’s and even more important the agreements that have to do with the treatment of children.
I know many of you are afraid to speak up about the violations and breaches of the Corporate Integrity Agreement. I know many of you are concerned about other misdeeds happening at the dental centers as well as at corporate headquarters.
I encourage each of you to report any and all violations. If you don’t feel comfortable using the Hotline that is set up, and I understand that completely, then at least report directly to the OIG/HHS.
You may direct complaints of suspected Medicaid fraud to
State Medicaid
OIG's Hotline1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or directly to a
Fraud Control Units
If the monitor is visiting your center, please talk to the monitor. I’m sure all reports and allegations are taken seriously. If you can’t talk freely right then, surely you can find a way to get the monitor’s attention to slip them a phone number or a note or something. Get the name of the monitor and contact them later….do something.
Heck do all of the above if you don’t feel comfortable talking to the monitor and your concerns swept under the rug. Even though I doubt that is the case. But I understand just about every one of you are terrified.
You guys are the first line of defense against children being mistreated and Medicaid fraud prevention. Please do the right thing. For example, if you see procedure being coded and billed improperly, please report it, please. Don’t become part of the crime and cover-up.
Grove, Jean P.
Jean P. Grove - Pueblo Chieftain - March 12, 2001 - Longtime Pueblo resident, passed away March 9, 2001. Preceded in death by husbands, Frank G. Palladino and Arthur E. Grove; sister-in-law, Veronica DeRose; and brother-in-law, Bruno DeRose. Survived by nieces and nephews, Dr. Edward J. and Neta DeRose, Sel and Vivian Elizondo, Dr. Rudy and Berni Padula, Alfred J. and Rose Schiavoni, Mary Lou Keating; and sister in-law, Jada Willard. Mrs. Grove resided in Pueblo for 50 years and was a loyal member of Sacred Heart Cathedral and St. Pius X churches. Service will be held at Sacred Heart Cathedral on March 13 at 10 a.m. The family respectfully requests the omission of food and flowers. Contributions may be made to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, 7 Glen Eagle Court, Pueblo, CO 81001, in memory of Mrs. A.E. Grove. Interment, Roselawn Cemetery.
If states want to stop the influx of these substandard dental mills; if states want to end the continued overtreatment and child torture perpetrated on the poorest and most vulnerable of our citizens; if states want to cut the Medicaid fraud by same dental mills by billions; the solution may be as simple as slowing down the reimbursements.
Many think they gravitate to states with the highest reimbursement rates or those states that pay for more procedures, but that’s not always true. If you were to ask an exec at one of the mills, you may well be told it’s actually how fast the money flows into their coffers.
Look at the states who are slow to pay; you won’t find many dental mills there. Take Illinois for example, they are considered to be slow to pay; no Small Smiles or Kool Smiles there.
Of course that’s just one of the factors considered, but it’s a huge one! Other factors could be:
How quickly dentists can be credentialed
How quickly dentists can be licensed with the state dental board
Who they know and can control at the state dental associations
Being lectured about wasting taxpayer dollars by a Medicaid Fraudster is off the chart ridiculous. Just saying….
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2011
Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343
WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that a nationwide takedown by Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in eight cities has resulted in charges against 91 defendants, including doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals, for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes involving approximately $295 million in false billing.
Attorney General Holder and Secretary Sebelius were joined in the announcement by FBI Executive Assistant Director Shawn Henry, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HHS Inspector General Daniel R. Levinson.
Sat, 09/03/2011 - 12:22am — Joe Conason
Republican presidential frontrunner Rick Perry complains constantly about Washington’s “culture of runaway spending,” wasteful government programs, and federal intrusions into the affairs of the states. In Fed Up, the book he published last year, the Texas governor bitterly criticizes Medicare (which he terms “unconstitutional”) as well as the health care reforms passed by President Obama and by Mitt Romney in Massachusetts, which he regards as infringements on freedom.
Before Perry goes after Romney and Obama on medical spending, however, perhaps he ought to try putting his own state’s government in order first. According to a new investigation by a Dallas television station, the Medicaid program in Texas – overseen by Perry – is wasting millions of dollars annually on orthodontic braces for children who may not even need them.
But the story gets worse: Texas Medicaid wasting big money on unnecessary braces due to lax regulation by the state –and those millions are going straight to for-profit clinics owned by hedge funds.
Reviewing Dallas ABC affiliate WFAA’s investigation, health care expert Trudy Lieberman explains in the Columbia Journalism Review how the teeth of poor children in Texas became a golden opportunity for wealthy investors on Wall Street. Last year, the state spent more than $184 million to provide braces for 120,000 children – many of whom apparently did not qualify for orthodontic care under the state’s own criteria, according to WFAA investigative reporter Byron Harris. That is more than twice as much as Texas spent on the same program three years ago –and the same amount as all of the other 49 states combined.
“Judging by the increased payouts,” Harris noted, “the teeth of Texas children are growing more crooked each year.”
Columbia Journalism Review:
Golden Teeth
Dallas’s WFAA shows crooked Medicaid spending on orthodontia
by Trudy Lieberman
These days it’s rare for local TV stations to produce anything resembling an expose. With their steady diet of crime, weather, and canned medical news, there just isn’t room for the hard reporting. WFAA, the ABC affiliate in Dallas, has earned a reputation as a notable exception. Throughout the summer, the station and its investigative reporter Byron Harris have taken on the Texas Medicaid agency and its spending spree for braces for poor kids.
Now there’s nothing wrong with these children getting braces. Many, no doubt, will benefit in the long run. The problem, Harris reported, is that last year the state paid more than $184 million—nearly double the amount it spent in 2008—to supply braces for 120,000 kids, some of whom may not have met the state’s criteria for orthodontic work.
You are God sent! I found your blog last night while I was googling dentist torture. I need your help and advise.
Yesterday while I was at work my mother took my son to the dentist (Kids Dental Place on Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85016) He had NINE root canals, not to mention crowns and other unnecessary work that was preformed.
His face and lips are swollen and he is all bruised up inside and outside his mouth. He also has scratches on his arms and imprints on his arm from where they strapped him down.
I had NO IDEA that no parents are allowed in the back or else I wouldn't have brought him there! My mother thought she was coming in for a couple of fillings turned into NINE root canals. I am so horrified.
Can you give me some wisdom or guidance on what to do?I asked Moses’ mom if she could send me any pictures of his injuries and asked if she had gotten his charts from Kids Dental Place.
I spoke to the office manager and she was basically like "who cares" and he does Nine root canals all the time, like it is no big deal!!! This is so unacceptable, who sits and get nine root canals in one sitting?? My poor baby.
My son also told me that they did not give him any pain medication that he as crying the whole time! And that the densest was very mean! My son does not lie either and is a vey smart boy for his age (4).
Thanks a million!
This exact same thing is happening to 1,000’s of children every day in the Medicaid dental mills such as Small Smiles, Kool Smiles and the like! The less fortunate children deserve a voice too, that’s why this site is here.
I’d love to see the masses at these clinics!
Brayden’s mom sent me this yesterday, August 30, 2011 and asked that I tell this story and help how ever I can. With that said, here is her son’s brush with death.
Brayden
Hello my name is Ashley and I am writing in hopes that you might be able to inform your readers and possibly direct me as to where to go . You see my son Brayden was also having work done on his teeth Aug. 12, 2010 at Dr. Charles Keithline's office, Tulsa Oklahoma, although it was not Dr. Keithline that did Brayden’s or the little girls procedure. He was supposed to but decided last minute to go on some sort of retreat with his wife also his office manage .
Dr. Ryan Roberts, Dr. Keithline’s associate in the office performed the procedures, There was only 2 patients they were seeing that day her and my son. I can not get that day out of my head no matter how hard I try. The little girl was already in the room having her teeth worked on but I seen her being carried out by her mother and she was soooo- limp ...... I blame myself as well because I had a nagging feeling to just cancel his appointment and go home but I thought it is his first year in school and I wouldn't want him to have to miss school better to get it over with ( I will NEVER not listen to my instincts again ).
I'm finding all kinds of problems with the dental community, most of which starts with state dental boards. They are not there to keep the public safe, they exist to protect incompetent dentists and wall street corporations.
In most states the Executive Director is NOT a dentist, nor ever has been. Most are appointed by bureaucratic state administrations; a friend of a friend recommended them to the governor and so forth. However those "friends" are lobbyist! After appointment, they are seldom removed from office.
New "board members" are elected, but those member only meet once a month, sometimes less and do the business recommended by the Executive Director, who is there to draw a paycheck and little more. People are mislead into believing dental boards administer testing for new graduates to measure their competence, that is NOT the case any longer.
This past Monday which was August 22nd I took my 5 year old son to have a tooth that I was told needed to be extracted. After arriving at the office my son was given a sedative by mouth in a small cup to drink. He immediately threw up at least 50% of the mixture. I was told to keep an eye on him as he might have vomited it up and it not work.
After approximately 15 minutes a nurse came to me and my son and she wanted to take him in the back for the procedure. He was not ready and he was still very alert. I told the nurse this and she informed me she was only going to be taking x-rays and would be back shortly with him.
Ten to 15 minutes later a nurse comes from the back frantically calling for me and I can now hear my son screaming my name. I rushed to the back and he was being held down by the shoulders by 3-4 nurses and I snatched him up very quickly. He had blood coming from his mouth and was wet from head to toe.
Many dental restraints for young patients are being phased out
BY KELLIE SCHMITT, Californian staff writer
kschmitt@bakersfield.com | Monday, Aug 29 2011 08:03 PMLast Updated Monday, Aug 29 2011 08:53 PM
As critics of a local dentist who frequently restrains his young patients grew in size and strength Monday, experts said the practice of routinely using a so-called papoose board is being phased out.
The allegations against Dr. Edward Dove center on injuries such as slaps and scratches that reportedly occurred while the children were restrained with Velcro straps, under partial sedation, and while their parents were not allowed in the room.
A representative from Dove's office said staff had been instructed not to talk to the media, and Dove did not return a call Monday. In a prior interview, Dove, whose record is free of disciplinary action, denied allegations of slapping any patients, and said he offered good care to thousands of children.
Using a papoose board and keeping parents out of the operating room aren't necessarily problematic, but pediatric dentistry experts say children should not be injured in the restraining process.
"If the kid thrusts through the whole procedure and cries vociferously, they can come out of a procedure with their face red," said Dr. Ray Stewart, executive director of the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry. "But in terms of scrapes and scratches, no. It's a violation of ethics, and the law and it clearly crosses the line."
GROWING ALLEGATIONS
Last week, Bakersfield resident Chris Cook was angry about Dove's treatment during his child's tooth extraction. He launched a Facebook site titled "I Hate Dr. Dove of Bakersfield," which has grown to more than 400 members.
Before his 5-year-old's extraction, the child threw up some of his oral sedative, Cook said. During the procedure, which Cook was not permitted to watch, his son urinated on himself. Cook alleges that his child, who was restrained with the papoose board, was not numb, and should not have been operated on.
On that Facebook page, other parents have reported similar incidents involving Dove's care. Cook has created a document on that site listing 21 people who allege mistreatment, many of whom say they're planning to report the claims to the Dental Board of California. Some members posted pictures of facial scratches they say resulted from their child's visit to Dove.
Cook, who said he's also "speechless and dumfounded" that Dove described his children's dental history to the media, organized a protest Monday in front of the dentist's Union Avenue office.
Protester Carol Webb said her daughter, then 3, needed dental work two years ago. Webb wasn't permitted in the back room but heard a "blood curdling scream." Her daughter left Dove's office hysterical, and said the dentist had "told her to hush and hit her," Webb recalled.
At the time, Webb said she called the local dental association, but wasn't aware she could report a complaint to the Dental Board of California -- something she's now planning to do.
"When I heard about this on the news, I turned to my mom and said, 'That's the dentist who hit her,'" she said. "The stories are all the same."
USING PAPOOSE BOARDS
Restraints such as papoose boards are used to reduce or eliminate movement and protect the patient, dentist and staff from injury during dental treatment, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. The academy's guidelines caution against using such stabilization on "patients who have experienced previous physical or psychological trauma" from the device, unless there are no alternatives.
The guidelines call for informed consent before using protective stabilization such as the papoose board. That's because of "the possible aversive nature of the technique."
Dove's office manager said last week that all patients sign a consent form before a papoose board is used.
Dentists say the board can be used in emergencies, or to keep young or uncooperative children stable and immobile during the procedures, which involve sharp instruments -- as an alternative to putting them to sleep.
Before placing a child in a restraint, dentists like Dove typically give an oral sedative to children that leaves them disassociated from their environment, but still conscious with normal protective reflexes. The relaxation can cause the body to lose functions, such as control of urinating, numerous dentists say.
If a patient spits up some of that oral sedation, dentists can either reschedule the procedure or continue if they think the patient is numb enough.
When papoose boards are used, it's essential that parents understand the device and its purpose, Stewart said. In his practice, he showed a video and made sure parents knew they could explore alternatives such as taking their child to a hospital and having general anesthesia instead. Dove said last week that general anesthesia can escalate costs for his patients, some of whom require financial assistance.
Many dentists say they're increasingly putting the child to sleep and using a tube to aid in breathing. Some dentists stay away from the restraint entirely unless it's an emergency, and others, like Dr. Paul Reggiardo, no longer use it at all.
"When I was younger, and it was more commonly used, I found parents were uncomfortable with it," said Reggiardo, public policy advocate at the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry. "When the parents see their child resisting, it's hard on the parent."
Anesthesia is less invasive for children, especially if they're uncooperative, said David Rothman, a San Francisco-based pediatric dentist: "Protecting the child's psyche is the most important part of this."
PARENTS IN THE ROOM
Dove said last week that anxious parents keep him from getting his work done, which is why he doesn't allow them in the room during procedures. Nationwide, there are no official guidelines on whether parents should be present in the room during dental procedures, and it's left up to the discretion of the dentist.
Rothman says he invites parents to observe his procedures even if they have to stand in the doorway. In the rare situation where he uses a papoose board, parents are always in the room, and they help place the child in the device.
"Parents can be distracting, but you explain what's going on and most of the time they're understanding," he said.
At the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Dr. Warren Brill tells his students that's a decision they have to make on their own. Parents aren't always a positive influence since their presence might confuse the children as to whose instructions to follow.
Still, in his personal practice, Brill says having parents in the room helps them better understand procedures and instill more trust. And, it helps to clarify any potential miscommunications.
Brill, the vice president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, said he could envision a situation where a dentist was working on a child with a sharp instrument and the child reaches up to grab his hand.
"You might push the hand away, and the child might view that as a slap," Brill said. "Children will perceive things that don't necessarily reflect reality. You have to put it in perspective. If the dentist is trying to hold the child, the child might view that as aggressive action."
But, dentists agree, there's no excuse to ever inflict violence on a child. If a procedure involving a papoose board ever escalated, Stewart said he'd stop the procedure, tell the parent it didn't work out, and suggest general anesthesia in a hospital.
In several decades of practice, he fielded a couple of complaints from parents who said their kids weren't treated well.
"You're going to run into this," he said. "But, if you have dozens stepping up and the allegations are consistent, then I'd say there is a pattern that needs to be investigated."
Why the restraints were ever there in the first place is beyond me!!
I’m guessing Dr. Warren Brill must disagree with this illustrious colleague, Dr. Steven Adair, former editor-in-chief and trustee at the AAPD and Chief Dental Officer at Small Smiles, one of the largest papoose board purchaser in the US.
by BYRON HARRIS
Bio | Email
WFAA
Posted on August 25, 2011 at 10:37 PM
Updated Thursday, Aug 25 at 10:37 PM
NEWS 8 INVESTIGATES
For the past six months, News 8 investigations have revealed hundreds of millions of dollars of questionable Medicaid spending on braces for children in Texas.
Now federal investigators are auditing the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which controls those funds. Taking the lead in the audit is the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
In a letter to the state, the inspector general says it will examine the "authorization process for orthodontic treatment" under Texas Medicaid. "The objective of our audit," the letter continues, "is to review the State's controls to ensure that only medically necessary orthodontic cases are paid." The time period covered by the audit is September 1, 2008 through May 28, 2011.
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 ExaminersFile a Consumer Complaint with Texas Attorney General here
333 Guadalupe, Tower 3, Suite 800
Austin, Texas 78701-3942
File a Medicaid fraud complaint with Texas here
Report the fraud, reap the benefits-share in a portion of the recovery here.
Write your state lawmaker here
File a complaint with your local District Attorney or County Attorney, you can find them in the phone book.
Don’t forget to follow up all complaints with further letters and phone calls.
WFAA
Posted on August 18, 2011 at 10:00 PM
Updated today at 3:16 PM
DALLAS - Many parents know it can cost as much as $5,000 to put braces on a child's teeth. Despite the high cost, it's a financial sacrifice some families make for a child's appearance.
Rarely are braces a health issue. But, while some families struggle to pay for braces, under Medicaid in Texas, tens of thousands of children get braces for free.
Last year, Texas spent $184 million on braces under Medicaid. And while Texas spent as much as the rest of the nation combined, some states, like Michigan and Kansas, spent zero.
From Hospital and Health Systems Group – June 2008
One example of provider relations going horribly wrong is the OrthAlliance experience. OrthAlliance is an orthodontic practice management company that follows a model common in the industry: the company first purchases the assets and leaseholds held by individual orthodontists or professional orthodontic corporations; then it enters into an agreement with the orthodontist or practice to
provide comprehensive practice management services; and finally, the practice
management company employs the orthodontist’s existing nonprofessional staff. It appears, however, that the arrangements were not as financially successful as several of OrthAlliance’s orthodontists had hoped, and the relationships between OrthAlliance and many of those providers eventually broke down. By 2001, approximatelyfifty-six OrthAlliance-affiliated practitioners and/or their professional corporations had filed lawsuits in eleven states.
2003 Penny v OrthAlliance
Corporate Dentistry Ruled Illegal
From Orthalliance 10-k Annual Report
On March 26, 2003, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, in ruling on the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment in a case captioned Penny v. OrthAlliance, Inc. , held that, when construed together, the purchase agreements and service agreements between the plaintiffs and OrthAlliance and the employment agreements between the individual plaintiffs and their practices violated Texas statutes prohibiting the unauthorized practice of dentistry and were therefore invalid. In the court’s view, the interrelationship among these agreements allowed OrthAlliance to own, maintain or operate an office or place of business in which it employs or engages the plaintiffs to practice dentistry, in violation of Texas law. In reaching its conclusion, the court noted that OrthAlliance leases or owns and maintains the office space and tangible assets used in the plaintiffs’ practices and provides comprehensive practice
Yes, average wait time is 7 minutes! Yes, 100% approval rating. Since the asked two people, whom they probably paid!!!
Senator, you may be a fine man, you may be a smart man. But no one would know by listening to what you are saying today.
What are you going to say when this company ends up under Federal investigation like Small Smiles? Will you tell us how great the place is then? Did you even check to see if they were being investigated before stepping up to that podium?
Since you want to take credit for this house of horrors, are you going to take the blame as well?
Maybe we should send all the complaints to your office!!
Senator Cardin’s boastful public statement from August 18, 2011.
Maryland Ranks First In Providing Child Dental Care
Armando TrullAugust 18, 2011 - Four years ago, 12-year-old Diamonte Driver from Prince George's County died from a brain infection created by an abscessed tooth because his mother was unable to get him adequate dental care. This death spurred Maryland to address this inadequacy, and now, things in the state are vastly different.
Maryland was ranked first in providing dental care for children in a recent Pew Center study.
White Plains NY
August 12, 2011
A former Mount Kisco resident and Greenburgh dentist is accused of possessing child pornography.
Dr. Henry Webster, of Greenburgh-basedWebster Dental Group (Scarsdale P.O.), was arraigned in Mount Kisco Justice Court on Thursday because he lived in the village when the alleged offense took place, according to DA spokesman Lucian Chalfen.
Now a resident upstate in Elizabethtown, NY, Webster was released on $5,000 bail, the Westchester County District Attorney's office announced.
Webster, 56, was charged with one felony count of child pornography possession (the official term is "Possessing an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child").
The DA's office announced that it received an external hard drive belonging to Webster on May 6 of this year. After an investigation, the DA office claims, images of children under 16 years old were found. The DA's office also claims that Webster was interviewed on July 22 and admitted to downloading and storing the images.
Webster could not be reached for comment. His next court date is Aug. 25.
I took this pictures in the summer of 2008, 6 months after I began hearing of these dental mills abusing children.
This is the Kool Smiles in Mechanicsville, VA. Located in a strip mall on Mechanicsville Pike.
Appears they are still using the same ole tactics; make mom feel guilty. This disgusting!!!
To see all the reports on Kool Smiles click here
NBA Dental Group
