Private Equity's slave trade in America.

This may come off as racist, but it is not. I say this because its true, inhumane and needs saying.

Our dental offices are beginning to look like nail salons!

Private Equity firms are bringing foreign trained dentists to assist them in stealing every last dollar they can from our Medicaid system. They are doing this by training the unwitting immigrants to over treat and under protect children, preferably under age 5, in our poorest communities, through Medicaid dental chop shops.

Private Equity firms, such as the Carlyle Group and others are brain washing the foreign professionals into believing they are serving the poor here in the US.

Little do the poor souls know they are being brought here to assist Private Equity firms in raiding the US treasury. Not until it's too late, do they realize what has happened; they are not here to bring a better tomorrow to our children as well as themselves.

This seems to be a business model the greedy in America are unwilling to stop.

Just because they are flown in on a jet instead of a wooden ship crossing the ocean does not make it different.

Today instead of plantation owners it's executives of Private Equity firms, but still the same ole shit.

Shameful!

Kool Smiles facing alleged claims of mistreatment, excessive... | www.kfoxtv.com

 

By Kandolite Flores

EL PASO, Texas —

Kool Smiles Dentistry for Kids is the target of  San Antonio attorneys who are soliciting claims against the dental offices for allegedly using force on children or providing unnecessary treatment.
KFOX14 took a look into the claims.
TV ads sponsored by the attorneys are dark and allude to dental nightmares for children.

They are attention-grabbing and prompted KFOX14 to ask parents via Facebook about their own Kool Smiles experiences.
We received nearly two dozen positive responses, including Penelope Alba, who has been taking her two children, Greg Diaz and Ada Alba, to Kool Smiles for years. She said her kids love Kool Smiles.

Dr. Mark Jerman–Ohio-indicted on prescription fraud.

A Franklin County grand jury indicted a "Top Dentist" on Monday after he allegedly wrote false prescriptions to employees and friends.

Mark Jerman allegedly wrote false prescriptions for hydrocone pills, according to Franklin County prosecutor Ron O'Brien.


According to O'Brien, Jerman, 45, allegedly wrote prescriptions to employees and friends who were not treated as patients.  They would allegedly fill the prescriptions and bring the drugs to Jerman.

Jerman was named to a list of "Top Dentists" in the December 2011 edition of "Columbus Monthly."  His arraignment was scheduled for Dec. 16.

[It can’t be more evident that “Top Dentist” criteria standards are very low at the “Columbus Monthly” publication in Ohio.  This is humiliating for them, or at least should be.  I don’t even want to know who was “Bottom Dentists” !]

From Jerman Family Dentistry webstie:
Dr. Mark grew up in Central Ohio. He graduated from Upper Arlington High School in 1984. In 1990 he graduated from The Ohio State University in Economics. After several years working in the dental industry for Patterson Dental Supply, Dr. Mark decided to fulfill his dream of becoming a dentist like his father. He attended The Ohio State University College of Dentistry and graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1999.

During his 10 year career in dentistry, Dr. Mark has taken many hours of continuing education courses to ensure he is providing the most advanced dentistry available to patients.


Dr. Mark and his wife, Debbie, live in Upper Arlington with their two children, Taylor and Jason. Family and friends are very important to Dr. Mark. He also loves golf and when it's warm and he is not in the office, he is on the golf course. Dr. Mark is a member of the American Dental Association, the Ohio Dental Association, the Columbus Dental Society, Columbus Dental Veterans and the Seattle Study Club.

Update: February 17, 2012
By 

John Futty

The Columbus Dispatch
Thursday February 16, 2012 12:39 PM
A Worthington dentist was placed on probation for two years and fined $500 today for feeding his
addiction to pain pills by writing prescriptions that were filled by employees and friends.
Mark S. Jerman, 45, pleaded guilty in Franklin County Common Pleas Court to five counts of
illegally processing drug documents.

Judge Guy Reece imposed the sentence, which was recommended by the prosecution and defense.
The judge said he would send Jerman to prison for eight months if he violates the terms of
his probation, which include continuing treatment for his addiction. Reece also suspended Jerman’s driver’s license for six months but will allow him to drive for work or treatment.

Jerman, of Burbank Drive in Upper Arlington, has a dental practice at 510 High St. in
Worthington.

Jerman’s dental license remains active, but the Ohio State Dental Board is likely to take
disciplinary action at its next meeting on April 11, said Lili C. Reitz, the board’s executive
director.

In the meantime, Jerman could reach an agreement with the board that would suspend his
license while he undergoes treatment, Reitz said.

Virginia Regulatory Commission asking for public comment on Dental Rule change to help save lives - Dentists Appose The Rule Change

The Virginia Regulatory committee is asking for public comment on a rule change that would require dentist to train in the 6 links of survival for emergency preparedness. 

I sit here shaking me head astonished. For some reason I'm still surprised, dentists are opposing this. Every person opposing the rule change are dentists, their patients are supporting it! The dentists are citing reason after reason but basically it's too "burdensome" or "costly" on their asses! Their patients are citing their lives need protecting!

Please click here and voice your support, save a child for heavens sake!

8 Children have died in the last 12 months

20 Children since 2007

 

Is a first-aid kit too much trouble and costly as well??

It's simply training in the 6 links of survival~!

Read It Here

Dental Treatment Deaths - 20 Dead Children Since February 2007

Deamonte Driver dies in February 2007, from a brain infection due to a cavity. http://deamontesdentalproject.org/. 

Since then there have been at least 20 children die during or just after dental treatment.  Those are just the ones we know about.  It is my personal belief there are three others in 2011.

The pediatric dental community stormed the halls of Congress demanding better access to dental treatment. In the process of trying to do something good, as what many times happens within the Halls of Congress, a good intention has gone terribly wrong. 

Children are dying at a lightening speed, children are being over treated with high reimbursement procedures where the money lands on Wall Street and state budgets are off the charts.  But NOT a soul, NOT ONE, from the Pediatric Dental Community has made their way to the halls of Congress demanding something be done to stop the deaths from the dental treatment its self.  1 can die from lack of treatment, 20 can die because of treatment, and we can't even get a 2 minute segment on the morning talk show to run a story sitting in their vaults.

 WTH!

ABC News has had a segment filmed and completed for well over a year.  It was to be shown on Good Morning America.

NBC News started to film a story about this in mid December 2011, the postponed it. Likely didn't plan to run it at all.  Then the next day or two, a couple of teens dies during Christmas break.  They decided to bring everyone back to NYC and film the segment the first week of January.  Not seen it yet!!

3 year old Juan Quiej's and 6 year old Kyneicha Pagan death by Dr. Patrick Bamgboye, DDS - Both children Papoosed!

NEWARK — An Irvington dentist who was disciplined by the state after a 6-year-old girl died during a routine procedure eight years ago is again under investigation following the death of a second child in his care last week.

Patrick Bamgboye, 64, was still on probation for the earlier incident when 3-year-old Juan Quiej and his mother arrived at Dental Health Associates last Wednesday.

Juan, who was there to have cavities fixed, was restrained in a cocoon-like papoose to limit his movement and administered a local anesthetic, his mother said.

[FYI to investigators - There was a death much like this in NM a few years ago. Dr. Mathew Nolen, since deceased was working for Dr. Eddie DeRose at the time in the Small Smiles Dental Clinic]

Shortly afterward, the boy went limp, his lips turning blue. He had stopped breathing. He was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

- Dr. Patrick Bamgboye-Another dentist has killed two children - One in 2004 and another one last week

N.J. Burkett
More: Bio, Facebook, Twitter, Stories by N.J. Burkett, News Team

Web produced by Jennifer Matarese, Eyewitness News

IRVINGTON, N.J. (WABC) -- Two sets of parents are demanding a criminal investigation into the same dentist in New Jersey. 

A child from both families suddenly died after routine visits to the dentist.
"He was my dream.. My future. The light of my life," said Jose Quiej, the patient's father.

Little Juan Quiej was just three years old and suffered cardiac arrest during a routine dental procedure. His mother watched helplessly as Juan slipped away.

"I started shaking and crying," Antonia Chajchalac-Garcia, the patient's mother said, "To this day, I don't know what happened or why."

She brought her son to Dental Health Associates in Irvington, New Jersey.
The procedure was conducted last week under local anesthesia by Patrick Bamgboye.

His dental license was suspended after a six-year-old patient died under somewhat similar circumstances in 2004.
"This is shocking, and they should have done something in the first place," said Farah Torres, the patient's mother.

Kyneicha Pagan had cerebral palsy and suffered a seizure.

But, his license was suspended for, "Failing to obtain an appropriate medical history, failing to adequately assess the patient's medical condition, and failing to ensure all emergency equipment was available."
Dr. Bamgboye, the board concluded, "Has engaged in repeated acts of negligence."
State regulations allowed the dentist to resume practicing under probation.
Joseph Ginarte is now representing both families.

Has your child suffered injury due to the unnecessary orthodontic Medicaid treatment in Texas?

I'm hearing a firm in Texas is interested in Texas Orthodontics cases.  Here is the contract information.

Moriarty - Leyendecker

4203 Montrose, Suite 150

Houston, Texas 77006

713-528-0700 or 800-677-7095

• Meet James R. Moriarty
• Free Case Analysis
• Small Smiles Scam
• Spotlight On Small Smiles
• Up to date information on current lawsuits
• Moriarty-Leyendecker on FACEBOOK

Moriarty-Leyendecker on Facebook

Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement yeilds record breaking amounts

HHS released their annual report today on their efforts to control Medicare Fraud and the amount they recovered in Fiscal Year Ending 2011.  They are reporting a record amount recovered a whopping $4.1 billion dollars. Of course every year is a "recording breaking:" amount. 

I'm not so sure this is anything to brag about, I'm leaning toward NOT!

I'm thinking if every year I was returning a record number of cows to the barnyard, I would not qualify for a bonus. I'm just guessing, but I think I would be fired for continually letting a record number escape.

Just saying...
 . 
$2.5 billion was recovered in 2010
$1.63 billion was recovered in 2009
$1 billion was recovered in 2008
I'd like to see that number down to all but $0!  



February 14, 2012

Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Efforts Result in Record-Breaking Recoveries Totaling Nearly $4.1 Billion

Largest Sum Ever Recovered in Single Year

WASHINGTON –Attorney General Eric Holder and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released a new report showing that the government’s health care fraud prevention and enforcement efforts recovered nearly $4.1 billion in taxpayer dollars in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011.  This is the highest annual amount ever recovered from individuals and companies who attempted to defraud seniors and taxpayers or who sought payments to which they were not entitled.
These findings, released today, in the annual Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program (HCFAC) report, are a result of President Obama making the elimination of fraud, waste and abuse a top priority in his administration.  The success of this joint Department of Justice and HHS effort would not have been possible without the Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), created in 2009 to prevent fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and to crack down on the fraud perpetrators who are abusing the system and costing American taxpayers billions of dollars.  These efforts to reduce fraud will continue to improve with the new tools and resources provided by the Affordable Care Act.
“This report reflects unprecedented successes by the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services in aggressively preventing and combating health care fraud, safeguarding precious taxpayer dollars and ensuring the strength of our essential health care programs,” said Attorney General Holder.  “We can all be proud of what's been achieved in the last fiscal year by the Department’s prosecutors, analysts and investigators – and by our partners at HHS.  These efforts reflect a strong, ongoing commitment to fiscal accountability and to helping the American people at a time when budgets are tight.”  more here

Prior Year Reports

Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control (HCFAC) Fact Sheets

Prevention and Public Health Funds for your state

Related:

September 23, 2011

Moving Aggressively on Improper Payments

Today, the Washington Post ran a story about an Inspector General report that showed that from 2006 to 2010, the Office of Personnel Management paid $601 million to retirees who are dead.
Unfortunately, paying people the wrong amount or paying the wrong people – what we call “improper payments” – has been happening in the Federal government for far too long, and it is just plain wrong. It’s why, as faithful readers of OMBlog know, the Obama Administration has moved aggressively against improper payments and wasteful government spending since day one.
President Obama set a goal of preventing $50 billion in improper payments and recapturing $2 billion in erroneous payments. The Administration has taken important steps towards achieving the President’s goals, which have yielded early results.
In 2009, the President ordered agencies to identify programs with the worst records in this area and to select a senior official to be held accountable for coordinating agency program integrity efforts. The Administration set up a public website to track progress on reducing these payment errors and hold leaders accountable and called for action against government contractors for failing to report significant overpayments received on government contracts in a timely way.
In 2010, the President directed that Federal agencies use technology to attack this problem and return billions of erroneous payments to American taxpayers. As the Vice President announced in June 2010, we have expanded the use of cutting-edge fraud mapping tools to gather enormous quantities of information in real time, analyze the data, and connect the dots to identify indicators of possible fraud or error. ...more here

 

 

Dentist admits filing false Medicaid reports | The News Journal | delawareonline.com

 

WILMINGTON — Prominent Wilmington dentist Marieve Rodriguez admitted to 10 misdemeanor counts of filing false Medicaid reports today in exchange for state prosecutors dropping 19 felony counts of health care fraud.

In addition Rodriguez, who operates Gentle Care Family Dentistry on Gilpin Avenue, will pay a $100,000 fine, repay $72,000 to the state’s Medicaid program and $50,000 to cover the costs of prosecution.

She also agreed to have her license to practice medicine suspended for a year and to not participate in the state’s Medicaid program -- should she get her license back -- for at least five years.

Culture of silence is ending

It is unacceptable when people of authority allow their own interests and greed, influence the treatment of children; be it teacher, doctor, dentist, or therapist.

Nothing less than jail should be acceptable for each person involved. Are we beginning to see a slight advancement in this area? I hope so.

Financial profits of the greedy and executives at private equity firms are over riding professional standards of care in corporate medicine, especially dentistry and troubled teen youth centers.

When a top pediatric dentist in America, Dr. Steven Adair,suggests to dentists working for a corporation where he is an officer, the chief dental officer and head of the advisory board, that using a pillowcase to tie a child down for dental care, as to speed treatment, it is not exactly a high point! ( see Superman Cape) Does Dr. Adair teach this to hid student in Georgia?

Many times it's the same slithering snakes, who move from venue to venue, with the assistance of companies like McBee and Associates, a Medicaid revenue finder for medical professionals.

The culture of silence is ending and presently a handful, and growing, group of brave, strong, and outspoken people are being heard I for one am determined to bring this to an end, at least in the dental profession.

No longer can these abused go unnoticed and unquestioned. The Internet has made information about corruption available for the world to be advised.

WR man charged with practicing dentistry without a license - Crime & Courts - Macon.com

 

A dentist who surrendered his license in 1993 was indicted Tuesday on allegations he practiced dentistry without a license in 2011.

Chester Kyle Little, 58, of Warner Robins, is accused of performing dentistry from June 30, 2011, to Aug. 25, 2011, at an office located at 2533 Hillcrest Ave. in Macon, according to an indictment filed Tuesday in Bibb County Superior Court.

Babies for braces? News 8's Medicaid investigations continue | wfaa.com Dallas - Fort Worth

 

DALLAS - No one would say being a single mom is easy. Especially being a single, teenage mother.
But the State of Texas appears to be encouraging teenage girls to become pregnant so they can receive free dental care under Medicaid.

Our investigation last year found hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money spent for free braces on kids' teeth under Medicaid. That spurred a federal investigation, because cosmetic braces aren't supposed to be paid for under Medicaid.
If that is an example of good intentions gone bad, Latricia Banks and her mom, Patricia Jones, may exemplify a good idea gone terribly wrong.

For them, home is a tiny, wooden house in the shadow of Dallas' skyscrapers, which they share with Latricia's 82-year-old grandfather. It is a household held together with love, not money. Medical and dental care came mostly through Medicaid.
A little more than two years ago, Latricia's mom got a postcard in the mail, like many people in the neighborhood.  Access Dental was offering to provide free braces for qualified children like Latricia, then 17 years old.

Pediatric Dentistry’s Revolving Door

We hear a lot about the “revolving” door in Washington, but seldom does anyone talk about the revolving door within agencies and professional organizations.  The same organizations that write the rules, regulations, tests, and guidelines that effect each of us in a more personal way. The same organizations that states and lawmakers trust to protect the public from harm. Chances of corruption are 100% when there are no checks and balances.

Their Publications and Studies

Looking are various websites including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), you find publication after publication, study after study, dating as far back as the early 1990’s to the present.  Just about all of them are, rewritten and republished studies that are merely mashups of their own previous written articles and studies.

Here is just one of hundreds of examples :

Journal of Dental Education – Vol. 68, Number 1

General Dentists’ Perceptions of Educational and Treatment Issues Affecting Access to Care for Children with Special Needs. 
Written by:
Paul Casamassimo, DDS, MS;
N. Sue Seale, DDS, MS;
Kelley Ruehs, DDS

Referenced:
Casamassimo PS. The great educational experiment: has
it worked? Spec Care Dentist 1983;3:103-6.

Seale NS, Casamassimo PS. Access to dental care for
children: profiling the general practitioner who treats
young and low-income children. J Am Dent Assoc
2003;134:1630-40.

If you get to looking at all the professional opinions, publications, studies, and continuing education courses concerning pediatric dentistry, the same names are there over and over.

Engine trouble eyed in plane crash - The Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

 

Posted: Saturday, February 4, 2012 12:00 am

Engine trouble eyed in plane crash By NICK BONHAM | ​nickb@chieftain.com The Pueblo Chieftain | 0 comments

An engine problem appeared to have caused the Thursday night slide-off of a Learjet at Pueblo Memorial Airport, a preliminary report by the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The plane "lost power in right engine during take-off and ran off side of runway," the report said.

Due to weather conditions, investigators with the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board won't arrive in Pueblo until early next week, said Mark Lovin, airport director, on Friday.

No one was injured in the Thursday night crash. The private plane was occupied by the prominent DeRose family of Pueblo. The group was taking off in poor weather conditions to Las Vegas to watch the Super Bowl. Lovin, however, has said it doesn't appear the weather was a factor.

The report said the plane sustained "substantial damage" in the crash. The name of the pilot has not been released.

The DeRoses were on Learjet ID number N31WS, which was once owned by singer John Denver, according to flightaware.com

"John Denver took delivery of this Lear in 1975. He named it WindStar 1. He created WindStar Aviation. His father, Dutch, was the chief pilot," the website said.

Records show the Learjet is now owned by Extra Point LLC, in Delaware. The plane's most recent flight was from Centennial to Pueblo on Jan. 27.

The Learjet was removed from the side of the runway late Thursday night and is being stored at the airport for investigators.

The airport was closed following the incident but was reopened Friday morning.

Engine trouble eyed in plane crash - The Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

DeRose Learjet crashes at airport - The Pueblo Chieftain: Local News

This morning I awoke to hear news about the big snow storm in the Rockies.  Next thing that was talked about was the flight cancelations and so forth.  Then it was mentioned a private jet had already slid off the runway in Pueblo due to the fierce snow storm.

Pueblo! The sudden adrenaline rush woke me on up, since I was still in bed half asleep. When I hear Pueblo, I think DeRose.

Being the meanie I am, I thought, “Oh, please let that be a DeRose jet.” 

Then the newscaster said, “luckily no one was injured.” Again, being the meanie I am I thought, “dang”. That little devil on my shoulder shows up every now and again, ya know.  (it does for everyone, I just might admit it more…lol)

That was the end of the report and the newscaster moved on.

The devil side of me disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.  I came to my senses and thought, there has to be dozens of private jets in Pueblo.Then, just moments ago a reader sent me a link to the following story!

Time is money–ever wonder how much?

So why does your dentist strap your child in a papoose board as soon as they get their hands on them, instead of taking the time to go through the acceptable standards set out by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry? (Listed in detail below).

Answer - M.O.N.E.Y.

How much?

Every MINUTE saved is $6-$8.

For a Private Equity firm, or other Wall Street bank or investment firm, wasting $6-$8 a minute is UNACCEPTABLE!  For a greedy dentist who cares nothing about your child, only about his/her 5 million dollar home and private jet it’s also UNACCEPTABLE.  (see below about these numbers)

From the AAPD Guidelines for Behavioral Management

AAPD Guidelines Page 4 - Regardless of the behavior guidance techniques utilized by the individual practitioner, all guidance decisions must be based on a subjective evaluation weighing benefits and risks to the child. The need for treatment, consequences of deferred treatment, and potential physical/emotional trauma must be considered.

Decisions regarding the use of behavior guidance techniques other than communicative management cannot be made solely by the dentist. They must involve a parent and, if appropriate, the child. The dentist serves as the expert on dental care (i.e.,the timing and techniques by which treatment can be delivered). The parent shares with the practitioner the decision whether or not to treat and must be consulted regarding treatment strategies and potential risks. Therefore, the successful completion of diagnostic and therapeutic services.

Acceptable Techniques

1st – Tell-Show-Do Tell-show-do is a technique of behavior shaping used by many pediatric professionals. The technique involves verbal explanations of procedures in phrases appropriate to the developmental level of the patient (tell); demonstrations for the patient of the visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile aspects
of the procedure in a carefully defined, nonthreatening setting (show); and then, without deviating from the explanation and demonstration, completion of the procedure (do). The tell-show-do technique is used with communication skills (verbal and nonverbal) and positive reinforcement.

New Medicaid Dental Rules in Texas is Potential Windfall for Wall Street–Anyone Surprised? Not me!

I made an entry here a few weeks ago about Kool Smiles telling their patients they have to choose a doctor, not their clinic under the new rules. I wondered how that would work, since the dentist’s don’t stay too long at the dental mills. Chances of seeing the same dentist twice (unless it’s the next day) slim to none. 

Here’s a comment on that from a Texas dentist I thought deserved being front and center.

Welcome to HCE LLC–Your Medicaid Profit Scout

Company is part of McBee and Associates,

 

 

About Us

Learn how HCE can improve your profitability by
obtaining eligibility—especially with the most
difficult cases

Headquartered in Manhattan, with offices in Nassau and Westchester counties

HCE LLC provides Medicaid eligibility services to the New York metropolitan area and lower Hudson Valley. The firm’s clients range from independent health care providers to major medical systems. HCE maintains a consistent reputation for superior results and client-focused services, and has done so for the past seventy years.

HCE is focused exclusively on Medicaid eligibility services. The firm’s knowledge of and experience with the intricacies of the New York Medicaid system is unmatched. HCE professionals have dedicated their careers to Medicaid eligibility, with most having at least ten years of experience in the field. This depth of knowledge and expertise results in superior return of Medicaid dollars to our clientele.

HCE LLC has expanded into opening a new source of additional revenue for hospitals through the federal grant program, Section 1011 that provides reimbursement for uncompensated ED care for undocumented aliens.

Welcome to HCE LLC

Dentist who used paper clips in root canals gets one year in jail - Crimesider - CBS News

 

(CBS/AP) FALL RIVER, Mass. - Dr. Michael Clair, a former dentist who substituted paper clips for stainless steel posts in root canals, was sentenced to one year in jail on Monday.

Clair pleaded guilty earlier this month to charges including assault and battery, illegally prescribing medication, witness intimidation and defrauding Medicare of $130,000.

Prosecutors say that Clair sometimes used pieces of paper clips while performing root canals. This caused infections and other problems in patients.

One woman said her teenage son's tooth turned black and had to be removed after Clair gave him a root canal in 2005.

"He put my kids in pain for months ... I hope he rots there," said Brenda Almeida after Judge Richard Moses sentenced Clair to a year in the Bristol County House of Correction.

Dentist Charged with Medicaid Fraud - Holmdel, NJ Patch

An announcement from the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General

Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa announced that a Monmouth County dentist has been indicted for allegedly submitting false claims to the Medicaid program.

Ping Cai, 49, of Holmdel, a licensed dentist whose practice is located in Hazlet, was charged with second-degree health care claims fraud and two counts of third-degree Medicaid fraud.

The Monmouth County grand jury indictment alleges that between Jan.1, 2007 and Jan.1, 2010, Cai fraudulently billed the Medicaid Program for dental service purportedly rendered to Medicaid recipients. 

It is alleged that Cai submitted fraudulent claims for payment from Medicaid for relining and rebasing of dentures and filling of cavities when those dental services were not rendered. 

The Medicaid Dental Patient

Somethings just burns my ass-there are a lot of things-but the one that belongs here is what people seem to think is the face of the Medicaid poster child.

Perpetrated by the greedy elite, to flaunt their sick and distorted view of philanthropy, the face of Medicaid Dental Patient is NOT a poor black daddy baby, (yes, daddy baby), left alone with a sippy cup full of Mt. Dew, and whose mom has been strung out in some crack house down the street for a week. Somehow by painting this picture we all are guilty of turning our heads. Shame on us.

The true picture of the Medicaid Dental Patient is our handicapped, it's our foster children, it's many of the children at St. Jude's, ( keep that in your mind),it's our children whose fathers are allowed shirk their financial responsibility, it the children of your neighbor who lost his job, it's your grandmother in the nursing home you don't go visit enough! Yes, they too are preyed upon. ReachOut Healthcare America is one of many who do this.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry - Media Information

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry - Media Information

I can’t believe I missed this in 2010! She’s walking in Steven Adiar’s shoes while she’s suppose to be monitoring his child abusing, Medicaid defrauding company, Church Street Health Management. Adair used to be the Editor.  I’ve heard about how her “monitor” visits go at the Small Smiles Centers. She’s either not looking or turning her head! But that’s what you get with self-policing. It really amounts to more layers of cover-up protection. Disgusting!

AAPD Appoints New Editor-in-Chief
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the recognized leader in children’s dental health, appointed Dr. N. Sue Seale as Editor-in-Chief of Pediatric Dentistry and Journal of Dentistry for Children effective January 1, 2010.

Seale is a Regents Professor of Pediatric Dentistry at the Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M Health Science Center in Dallas, Texas. She received her dental degree in 1970, her certificate in pediatric dentistry in 1972 and her Master of Science in Dentistry in 1979 from the Baylor College of Dentistry. Since 1974, she has been a full-time faculty member in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the Baylor College of Dentistry and was Chairman of the Department from 1986-2009.

Seale has served in a variety of leadership roles, including serving as a past president of the Texas Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and on the Board of Trustees of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. She received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Baylor College of Dentistry Alumni Association and was elected to the Baylor College of Dentistry Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2001, the AAPD named her Pediatric Dentist of the Year. Seale was also a recipient of the AAPD’s Merle C. Hunter Leadership Award in 2003. Seale is a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

“I am excited to take on this new role and look forward to participating in the changes that will take place in our journals over the coming years as we strive to meet the changing needs of our readers,” said Seale.

Seale’s areas of interest include pulp therapy for the primary and young permanent dentition, dental education and access to care.

Justice Department and Arizona AG Break Up Dental Conspiracy 1994

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AT
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1994 (202) 616-2771
TDD (202) 514-1888

Press Release

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND ARIZONA STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BREAK UP DENTAL GROUP'S CONSPIRACY TO ELIMINATE DISCOUNTING
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Justice and the Arizona Attorney General's office acted jointly today to stop a statewide agreement that made it almost impossible for many dentists in Arizona to cut their prices or offer discounts on dental services.

Similar agreements are common in the health care industry, and those that stifle price competition are likely to be challenged elsewhere, the Justice Department warned today. In a civil antitrust suit and proposed settlement filed in Phoenix, the dentist-controlled Delta Dental Plan of Arizona Inc. was accused of eliminating discounts and reducing price competition under an agreement that had the effect of preventing dentists from cutting fees below those offered in the Delta Plan.

This is the first action challenging such contract provisions, which are known in the industry as "most favored nation" clauses. Approximately 85% of the dentists in Arizona have affiliated with Delta, the dominant dental plan in the state, the Department said.

 

Who are on these committees and subcommittees making these guidelines? Who are they cozy with?

 

2011 Behavioral Management Guidelines

The link above contains the latest version, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). It’s written and revised by the AAPD Clinical Affairs Committee – Behavior Management Subcommittee. I want to know who is on this committees, don’t you?

In fact, I think it is extremely important to know who is on each of these committees and subcommittees. They are setting guidelines and standards that our federal and state government rely heavily on. Most of the time these guidelines are 100% relied upon.

We certainly demand to know who is making our laws and just who these lawmakers are all cozied up with, well, what’s the difference?! NONE!

I’ve found a helpful little website where you can check guidelines for various healthcare professions. It’s at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). It’s the National Guideline Clearing House.

I’ve not tried it, but it appears you can compare guidelines, now isn’t that cool.  Well, if it works anyway.

You can check past guidelines going back to 1997, that seems handy: browse by Organization,Topic,Guidelines in progress, get expert commentaries and much more.

Of course in checking this place out I got fired up over reading all the guidelines for Behavioral Management (D9920). Various terms for it are used; Behavior Guidance, Behavior Management, Behavior Control. The latest term, “Guidance” sounds so much nicer doesn’t it.

I don’t care what they call it, it’s worse than a straight jacket. In a straight jacket you can at least have use of your legs, but not in the papoose board, rainbow wrap, blankets or whatever cuddly term is thrown at the damn thing.

Shreveport dentist convicted of Medicaid fraud | Shreveporttimes | shreveporttimes.com

It’s not been a good month for dentist committing Medicaid Fraud has it?

Shreveport dentist convicted of Medicaid fraud | Shreveporttimes | shreveporttimes.com

Shreveport dentist David Earl Reed faces prison and fines after a conviction on two counts of Medicaid fraud.

Reed, 56, was barred from participating in the Medicaid program after a fraud conviction in 1992.

He continued applying to participate in the program from 2006 to 2008 and was denied. In 2009, state health officials told him he would be barred from the program for at least five more years.

However, from 2005 to 2007, Reed treated Medicaid patients while working for another Shreveport dentist. Reed submitted false billing claims to the program under the other dentist's provider number and received payment from Medicaid.

Health providers excluded from the program can't provide any services that will be billed directly or indirectly to Medicaid. It's a crime to be employed by, have a contract with or have an ownership interest in a healthcare provider that bills Medicaid, said Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell.

Reed will be sentenced April 27. He faces up to five years in prison and fines up to $20,000 on each fraud count.

Dentist arrested for Medicaid fraud - Breaking News - www.observer-reporter.com

January 27, 2012

A Washington County dentist, who allegedly prescribed more than 6,600 narcotic pain killers to seven patients, was arrested today by state narcotics and Medicaid fraud agents.

Dr. Charles Kokoska, 48, 2 Mill St., Millsboro, was charged by the state attorney general's office. Koskoska has offices at his Mill Street home and at 161 Waterdam Road, McMurray.

According to the criminal complaint, between January 2009 and October 2010 Dr. Kokoska wrote more than 300 prescriptions for more than 6,600 narcotic pain killers to at least seven different patients.

The prescriptions were written for the powerful prescription pain killers Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, and Propoxyphene and filled at various pharmacies in Allegheny, Fayette, Greene and Washington counties. Kokoska also wrote prescriptions for Diazepam, a generic form of Xanax, commonly used to treat anxiety.

Dr. Kokoska is charged with seven counts of prohibited acts by medical professional and two counts of provider prohibited acts.

He was arraigned before Brownsville Magisterial District Judge Joshua Kanalis and released on $25,000 unsecured bail.

Dentist arrested for Medicaid fraud - Breaking News - www.observer-reporter.com

Centre County Dentist Facing Insurance Fraud Charge | GantDaily.com

 

January 27, 2012 at 6:46 AM

HARRISBURG, PA – Attorney General Linda Kelly announced criminal charges have been filed against a Centre County dentist accused of submitting more than $52,000 in false insurance claims following a joint investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) State College office. 

Kelly identified the defendant as Dr. Jamshid Assadinia, 53, of 1764 Cambridge Drive, State College, Centre County. Dr. Assadinia owns and operates Jamshid Assadinia DDS,300 South Allen St., State College.

Kelly said Assadinia allegedly submitted insurance claims for dental procedures that he never performed and then billed the insurance companies more than $52,000 under the names of several different patients.

I don’t know, but I’ve been told, ReachOut America is as low as they go.

I’m hearing ReachOut Healthcare America mobile dentistry, and their Big Smiles program has a “service center” type place with hoards of telemarketers in cubicles, burning up the phone lines with a list of potential victims to contact that is as long as your arm. 

Telemarketers? Yes,telemarketers. This is where the “ReachOut” part comes into play. Each telemarketer has a list of the names of children, parents, your child’s school, and parent or guardian contact information.

For example, let’s say you are home, the phone rings, you answer and it’s a nice lady telling you the mobile dental clinic your school has approved, which is staffed with a highly qualified dentist and two assistants will be at your school on such and such date. Sounds just like picture-day doesn’t it?

The telemarketers have their expertly crafted scripts ready, which makes this phone call really a “high pressure” sales call. You’re probably going to be quoted statistics and such about the poor status of children’s dental health here in America, your state or even your town.

The telemarketer tell you they just your verbal permission - probably recorded- or so they might tell you. ReachOut can have their highly qualified and well trained dentist do just a little look-see, a screening so to speak, or maybe its been a while since your child’s last cleaning, they could do that for you too. They may tell you they will send home a report detailing Susie’s dental health.

They might ask, if their highly trained staff does find a problem, with Susie, do you what them to fix it, right then and there, since it is a full service mobile clinic. It will save you all kinds of time and we know as parents, time is a valuable commodity, right? Plus, how can you neglect your child by withholding dental care? Free dental care?! Free, you may ask?

The telemarketer, I mean company representative, tells you there will be no cost to you, since your child is eligible for free dental services because of your states Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Sounds like if you are on the “free lunch” list you get free dental care at school too, doesn’t it? 

In fact you may feel at the end of the phone call your this is all arranged by your school system as a service to all the children, included as a normal as the school nurse. Remember the fluoride rinses back in the 1980’s?

You could be lead to believe it’s nothing more than dental hygiene instruction – remember those Bell Telephone movie reels that used to make the rounds at schools?  No, well you’re not as old as me then.

If you decide you would like to be there for the event, you’re likely to be told that since they aren’t sure exactly what time Susie will be called, you could possibly be sitting there in the school all day, and you don’t want to be doing that, right? That’s just another classic separate the child and the parent ploy.

Speaking of that “free lunch” list, is that where ReachOut Healthcare got your contact information?

BUSINESS BRIEFS: Padula chosen citizen of year - The Pueblo Chieftain–more like snake of the century! GAG!

 

The Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce will honor Center for American Values founder Adolph "Rudy" Padula with its annual Citizen of the Year award, the group announced Monday.

   The award presentation will take place at the chamber's annual dinner Thursday night at the Pueblo Convention Center. Tickets remain available for the event. For reservations, call 542-1704.

   Padula, a Pueblo dentist for nearly 40 years, launched the Center for American Values several years ago. He purchased and renovated The Waterford, a large, aged building on the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo, into a new retail-office building that also is home to the center's meeting room and Medal of Honor portrait display.

BUSINESS BRIEFS: Padula chosen citizen of year - The Pueblo Chieftain: Local Business

UPDATED: TX Medicaid combats overuse of kids' braces -- 22 visits a year! | Trail Blazers Blog | dallasnews.com

 

UPDATE, 3:30 p.m.: The attorney general's office has 31 orthodontists under investigation for possible Medicaid fraud, David Maxwell, the office's deputy director of law enforcement, testified to the House panel. According to Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, the panel's chairwoman, 24 percent of the nearly 80,000 children who last year received orthodontic services from Medicaid were under the age of 12. State social services czar Tom Suehs testified that, starting in March, the minimum age for treatment of severe misalignment of upper and lower teeth will be 13. "Some of our providers out there gamed and manipulated the system," Suehs testified. "I won't use the word fraud. ... Clearly, we didn't have some of the controls we should've had."

ORIGINAL POST: Poor youngsters in Texas who were put into braces courtesy of taxpayers saw their orthodontist an average of 22 times in fiscal 2010, state Medicaid chiefs said in testimony they were to give to a legislative panel Tuesday.

"Typically, 12 visits per year is expected," said the written testimony by Medicaid chiefs Tom Suehs (right) and Billy Millwee to the House Public Health Committee.

Read the rest – click below

UPDATED: TX Medicaid combats overuse of kids' braces -- 22 visits a year! | Trail Blazers Blog | dallasnews.com

You may have paper clips in your root canal too! -Michael Clair Guilty Plea

A Massachusetts dentist plead guilty yesterday of Medicaid fraud and assault and jury tampering. Michael Clair had been banned from providing services to Medicaid patients, yet, but in so many cases these days, that means little. He still managed to collect $130,000 in fraudulent reimbursement. He would have other dentists in the dental practice provide billing services for work he did, in order to service Medicaid patients. He also managed to get his staff to fill prescriptions and give him the pills.  Tsk Tsk  His dental license had been revoked in Maryland, West Virginia and Florida, but Mass let him in!  Yes, those dental boards are fantastic!!  NOT!

A couple of sad things, one, it took 4 years to get here!  There were anonymous reports to the dental board (yes, I'm 100000% positive on that and they weren't so anonymous!), many other letters of concern and pleas for someone to stop this man. His dental license was suspended in 2006 and he's supposedly barred form practicing dentistry, which means, he's probably already open another office.

The second, sad, and oh so scary thing is, you may have paper clips in your mouth too! Today I received the following email:

Hi there,

I saw your post regarding the dentist in Mass that "did a root canal with a paperclip. I am not defending him at all. I just wanted to let you know that the use of a paperclip as part of a provisional crown is a legitimate technique. Now, I have no knowledge of the legitimacy of billing this to Medicaid. Attached is a photograph I just took from Herb Schillenberg's "Fundamentals of Fixed Prosthodontics" 3rd edition. This is the most cited text book on the market on the subject of fixed prosthodontics.

Thank you for your time,

DrJ

Thanks Dr. J

Victim Talks About Paper Clip Root Canal - Boston News Story - WCVB Boston

Michael Clair's trial was to start today:

Michael Clair, the former owner of Harbour Dental in the New Harbour Mall, pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud and to charges that he substituted paper clips for stainless steel dental posts in dental procedures.

Clair will be sentenced on Jan. 30 in Superior Court.

Clair, 53, now of Maryland, was scheduled to begin trial today in Superior Court on a total of 15 charges including fraud, assault, illegally prescribing drugs and coercing office staff to remain quiet about the conduct.

Instead, he offered to plead guilty to two counts of assault, three counts of larceny, five counts of Medicaid fraud, three counts of writing illegal prescriptions, one count of tampering with evidence and one count of intimidating a witness, according to a release from Attorney General Martha Coakley.

Clair remains free on bail pending his sentencing.

Read more: http://www.heraldnews.com/breaking/x2018890459/Fall-River-dentist-who-used-paper-clips-pleads-guilty-before-trial#ixzz1kJtyV9DY

Victim Talks About Paper Clip Root Canal - Boston News Story - WCVB Boston

Dr. Michael Clair's license was revoked in Maryland for 5 years, but that didn't save patients in Massachusetts

Four Winds Health, Midwest Dental, Kool Smiles Dental and Friedman Fleischer & Lowe (FFL)

From FFL website:
Four Winds Health, LLC was formed to build and manage a chain of high-end urgent care centers that offer walk-in, extended-hour access for non-life-threatening acute injuries and illnesses. Through its centers, Four Winds is focused on creating a superior patient experience through the delivery of convenient, comfortable, high-quality medical care.
Four Winds is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. The company was formed by the same management team which previously founded Kool Smiles, another FFL investment. FFL provided founding capital to Four Winds in 2011


Midwest Dental is a leading dental practice management company with over 75 clinics in six states. Midwest Dental clinics are typically located in suburban and rural areas, and the company has demonstrated an impressive track record of growth through acquisitions of independent dental clinics. The company provides the clinics with a full range of management, administrative and financial services, allowing clinical staff to allocate more of their time to patient care.
Midwest Dental is located in Mondovi, WI. FFL acquired the company in 2011 and plans to provide additional capital to support future acquisitions.
 

NCDR, LLC provides various non-clinical services to dental group practices, including providing dental facilities, support staff, and other business services. NCDR's principal [ONLY] client is Kool Smiles, a nationally-branded provider of dental care focused primarily on children enrolled in Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Programs. The limited access to care for children on Medicaid/SCHIP plans provides an attractive growth opportunity for Kool Smiles as it continues to expand offices with a mission to provide quality care to this underserved population.

The company is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. FFL invested in NCDR in 2004 to provide growth capital and liquidity to founders.

R. Kirk Huntsman’s- The Beginning: Reachout Healthcare America-Dental One, Nexus Dental Alliance and more

Last September(2011) R. Kirk Huntsman’s was featured at a seminar entitled “Beat The Dental Practice Management Companies”  Warning attendees of the “Walmart Effect” taking over dentistry.

Yet, among many other ventures in Dental Practice Management, R. Kirk Huntsman has been Managing Partner of Montage Venture Group LLC since March 2010, according to Business Week. 

R. Kirk Huntsman Bio from Nexus Dental Alliance, his virtual Dental Management company.  Virtual, meaning you just “pretend”, “not real”? 

Mr. Huntsman has been active in the dental industry for over 23 years.

Yet, never took time to become a dentist, wonder why?  If he was so into it, you’d have thought he would want to actually be one, right?

In 1988, he became the Dallas/Ft. Worth licensee for Associated Financial Transition Consultants, Inc.(AFTCO Associates,) a dental practice brokerage company with over 65 offices nationwide.  Within two years, his was the top performing office in the nation.   In 1991, he acquired the Houston license and continued to rapidly expand. 

By 1995, he was ready to begin owning and operating practices, so he launched Dental One as a dental management services organization, or DMSO.

In 1995, as well as today, it was illegal for a non-dentist to own dental practices!  I guess Mr. Huntsman failed to read the following page of info over at the AFTCO website, but it’s easy to see how he could become confused, since it’s written in a lot of double speak BS. Plus, it used the word “Goodwill” which I’m sure is not in his vocabulary.  Had the word, “Greed” been used, it would have had his complete attention.  Here is what is on the AFTCO’s website:

Orthodontics for sale- Texas

I was over on a dental practice brokerage firm site and wondered how many orthodontic clinics might be up for sale in Texas.  Surprisingly there were only two currently listed, however I’m guessing right now you can’t give them away down there…  Anyway, I saw this one and thought it amusing.
Specialty: Orthodontics
Number of Operatories:
Active Patient Count:
One Year Gross:
Opportunity Type:
Practice for Sale
DALLAS – 5 locations - Multi-Million Dollar Investment Opportunity! One owner wishes to sell all locations to the next “Dentist – Entrepreneur”. All staff and associates are to stay. Ideal for more than one Doc willing to “partner up” with a colleague or two. If you are an Oral Surgeon, Pedodontist, Endodontist or Orthodontist you can even have all of these offices refer to your specialty practice. Each facility computerized for easy practice management. Don’t go to work today! Let others “bring home the bacon” for you! Be a contributing clinician in this large operation or just the investor owner. Too much information to list in this ad regarding each location.

Fortune CNN Money article on a New Jersey Medicaid dental clinic

I was a bit offended by the attitude of these piece, but isn’t that the case when the press speaks of the less fortunate, poor or temporarily down on their luck.

It was titled Building a business with unwanted customers”, so I guess I had an attitude before I read it. 

My first thought was; of all the dental centers out there geared to treat child whose parents have fallen on hard times, why this one? 

All the right buzz words and phrases the dental mills use today - “Underserved” and ”Target Patients on Medicaid” for example – were used perfectly.  Even the added “nobility” factor was included – “believes that treating the underserved can make for good business.”

By the end of the article it sounded more like a story about a business in the ‘hometown” section of the local newspaper, not CNN Money.

This may be a fantastic dental center, I don’t know.  All I know is what I read and it had the sound of a local, one shop, assembly line style dental center.  That was until I saw the logo. Continue on and you’ll see what I mean.

Hiring a Compliance Specialist does not Compliance make. Just Saying...

Church Street Health Management is once again looking for a "Compliance Specialist".

Compliant Specialist Wanted
http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?Job_DID=J3I2D86WBVZR3TMPCNQ&siteid=cb_emailjob_US

I'm beginning to believe they don't understand how Compliance actually works or may they have comprehension dyslexia, where they understand rules, regulations, laws and agreements backwards.

Anyway, just hiring Compliance Personnel does little to actually "comply". You, the company actually have to take part. Compliance does not happen by osmosis.

I don't know how many folks you will find willing agree to possible Federal jail time just so you can continue defrauding Medicaid. I think those have all been used, come and gone.

However, I am willing to come down and show you every compliance issue you have if you are still having problems understanding it, you've only been trying since 2006!!!!

One thing you might want to look at immediately is the x-ray unbundling, upcoding as well as that nasty occlusal or not occlusal problem! Oh and are you returning the 44.00 per straight-jacketed child you are paid from Indiana?

Just saying...

Small Smiles Dental Centers Liquidation Sale? That’s the latest word I’m getting

Many fake owner dentists have been removed from service, Dr Chu in Phoenix for example has dropped out of sight. Employees have been asking questions for some time and despite denials from company officials, clinics are closing across the county by February 7, 2012.  The Toledo center closed the Friday before Christmas.  (employees found out by seeing the emails between corporate and Dr. Olivia Croom-stupid woman)

(Dr. Karen Chu is listed as owning all the stock in the Children’s Medicaid Dental Center, PC in Arizona, with William Nash as President and Chu as Vice-president.  Of course, Chu owns all of nothing but if I were her, I’d be demanding some further compensation since this is probably the end of the end for her dental career, all the other fake owners as well, like Dr. Monica Switzer in Oklahoma)

The rest of the clinics are up for sale.  Their corporate owner-Church Street Heath Management-Small Smiles Holdings- is trying to pawn the clinics off on individual dentists. Surely CSHM is not stupid enough to offer them financing or management services!  Surely any individual dentist is not stupid enough to take it!  Ask the one dentist who truly does own a piece of his center’s pie.  (Not sure, but I believe that is Dr. Michael Crites.)

Financing should be very difficult for any dentist who might want to purchase any of the clinics since the true income for each center will be difficult to obtain, if not impossible.

In cases where Church Street Health Management does hand over the numbers, they will be based on inflated revenue by the corporation's requirements of overtreatment, up coding (x-rays for example) and out right fraud that continues to this day.

To get an accurate idea of what any center's true income is impossible. Not one of the Small Smiles dental centers has ever operated in a honest professional manner, following any guidelines based in anything other than their own greed; first the DeRose family-Eddie, Michael and Dan, then in fall 2006 the Carlyle Group and First Islamic Bank k/n/a Arcaptia.

As for dentist who work there or have worked there in the past, look for lawsuits to follow you for years to come.

For those who did your best to represent your profession well and treated your patients properly , you should have nothing to be concerned about.

For those that fell under the spell and drank the Kool-aid; assisted in the fraud and abused children, you will get what you deserve. People always do.

For the innocent support staff who will lose jobs, get your resume's out now and I would double think mentioning Small Smiles as a past employer and personally I would not be applying at the other mills, Small Smiles is just the first domino to fall.


The clinics include:

Albany Access Dentistry
Small Smiles of Phoenix
Children’s Medicaid Dental Clinics
Texas Smiles
Oklahoma Smiles
Indian Springs Dental Center

My secret meeting with Todd R. Cruse of Small Smiles Dental-Church Street Health Management

On September 20, 2010, I received an email from Todd Cruse, Church Street Heath Management’s SVP of Development and Government Affairs.

“I’ll be in Kentucky next month. Any interest in having a cup of coffee and conversation?’

After a couple of days I finally responded, “I do apologize for taking so long to respond.  I've been seeing to my daughter and granddaughter.  I was about to reply to your suggestion today when I received a phone call from my attorney telling me Thor Urness wanted my attorney to call him. Upon hearing that, I thought I should wait to hear back from this conversation that Thor requested.  However, I've not heard back.  Until I hear what Thor wanted, I'm not comfortable granting your request for coffee and conversation. However, I do enjoy a good cup of coffee and am open for conversation.”

Thor Urness is the Nashville attorney who Church Street Health Management hired to harass me in the Federal Court system since November of 2008.

Todd responded back, “Thank you for your response. If at some point you become comfortable and would like to have that cup of coffee just let me know.”

By September 29, Thor had never returned the call my attorney had made to him, so I emailed Todd and we made arrangements to meet up for that “coffee and conversation” he so desired. 

Todd said in his return email, “I believe that Thor was following up on the posts that you have since removed so I don’t think Pat will be hearing from him. I am flexible as to where to meet. I have to run up to Bowling Green on Thursday to pick something up - Any interest in meeting me there. I believe there is a Starbucks right on 231 off of I-65 (Scottsville Rd I believe?).Thanks for reaching out.”  He closed the email with “TRC”.

I agreed and the meeting was set for 10 am Thursday October 7, 2010.

Small Smiles Dental Centers Liquidation Sale? That’s the latest word I’m getting

Many fake owner dentists have been removed from service, Dr Chu in Phoenix for example has dropped out of sight. Employees have been asking questions for some time and despite denials from company officials, clinics are closing across the county by February 7, 2012.  The Toledo center closed the Friday before Christmas.  (employees found out by seeing the emails between corporate and Dr. Olivia Croom-stupid woman)

The rest of the clinics are up for sale.  Their corporate owner-Church Street Heath Management-Small Smiles Holdings- is trying to pawn the clinics off on individual dentists. Surely CSHM is not stupid enough to offer them financing or management services!  Surely any individual dentist is not stupid enough to take it!  Ask the one dentist who truly does own a piece of his center’s pie.  (Not sure, but I believe that is Dr. Michael Crites.)

Financing should be very difficult for any dentist who might want to purchase any of the clinics since the true income for each center will be difficult to obtain, if not impossible.

In cases where Church Street Health Management does hand over the numbers, they will be based on inflated revenue by the corporation's requirements of overtreatment, up coding (x-rays for example) and out right fraud that continues to this day.

To get an accurate idea of what any center's true income is impossible. Not one of the Small Smiles dental centers has ever operated in a honest professional manner, following any guidelines based in anything other than their own greed; first the DeRose family-Eddie, Michael and Dan, then in fall 2006 the Carlyle Group and First Islamic Bank k/n/a Arcaptia.

As for dentist who work there or have worked there in the past, look for lawsuits to follow you for years to come.

For those who did your best to represent your profession well and treated your patients properly , you should have nothing to be concerned about.

For those that fell under the spell and drank the Kool-aid; assisted in the fraud and abused children, you will get what you deserve. People always do.

For the innocent support staff who will lose jobs, get your resume's out now and I would double think mentioning Small Smiles as a past employer and personally I would not be applying at the other mills, Small Smiles is just the first domino to fall.

Kool Smiles to Bring PBS KIDS' Award-Winning Content to Dental Patients -- ATLANTA, Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

 

Kool Smiles to Bring PBS KIDS' Award-Winning Content to Dental Patients -- ATLANTA, Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

I find this hilarious! 

Ok, kids, now is your chance to tell the world what happens to you behind those doors at Kool Smiles Dental and why they ever needed “quiet” hygiene rooms!

Kool Smiles Playlist:

Virginia Dental Board to consider stricter medical emergency rules thanks to a petition by the Raven Marie Blanco Foundation

Raven Marie Blanco died during dental treatment on March 9, 2007.  Since that time her family created a foundation that advocates much stricter guideline for medical emergency readiness.  Virginia has no requirements other than basic CPR, but dentists regularly sedate children for dental treatment.

March 9, 2012 will be the 5 year anniversary of Raven’s death and on that day, the Virginia dental board will present the petition to its members to enlist comments for or against the petition.

The petition asks that the Six Links of Survival developed in 2003 by the Institute of Medical Emergency Preparedness become part of the license renewal process for Virginia dentists.

You can email the dental board your comments at:

denbd@dhp.virginia.gov

The Six Links to Survival are:

1. Dentist's training
2. Staff training
3. Mock drills
4. Maintaining a written emergency plan
5. Stocking appropriate medications
6. Maintaining appropriate equipment

Dr. Arnel J.Gallanosa facing fraud charges in Indianapolis

Indystar.com

Written by Bill McCleery

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

USDOJ: US Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

 

Alexandria Dentist Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 10, 2012

ALEXANDRIA, Va. –Tuan Vu, 43, of Annandale, Va., pleaded guilty today to fraudulently billing insurance providers hundreds of thousands of dollars for dental services that he did not provide to his patients. 

            Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by United States District Judge Liam O’Grady. 

            Vu was charged today by criminal information with health care fraud, and he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on May 4, 2012. 

In a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Vu admitted to committing health care fraud from at least January 2007 to September 2011.  Vu is the owner of Cosmetic & Family Dentistry, PLLC, a dental practice located in Alexandria, Va.  During the time of his health care fraud scheme, Vu consistently billed dental insurance providers for services that he did not provide his patients.  As a result of Vu’s offense, at least 10 private insurance providers suffered more than $400,000 in losses.  Dr. Vu’s conduct also resulted in a substantial loss to the federal government and the Commonwealth of Virginia, including $87,389 to the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program and $180,048 to the Virginia Medicaid program.

            This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Chad Golder is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.

USDOJ: US Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Baker Victory Services Dental Center Fraud

Schneiderman Announces $325,000 Medicaid Fraud Settlement With Erie County Dental Clinic
By [WKBW News]
Story Updated: Jan 9, 2012

Buffalo, N.Y. (WKBW release) -- New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman on Monday announced that Baker Victory Health Services Dental of Lackawanna has paid the state $325,000 in restitution to resolve a Medicaid fraud case involving excess payments received on claims for dental services.

“The regulations for dental clinics are clear and so are the obligations on healthcare providers — if services are billed in violation of the rules for Medicaid reimbursements, the state is owed that money,” Schneiderman said in a news release. “My office is dedicated to recovering taxpayer dollars misspent through violations of the Medicaid program. Wasteful practices are a misuse of taxpayer dollars and abuses like this one will not be tolerated.”

An audit-investigation conducted by Attorney General Schneiderman's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit revealed that during the period of January 1, 2005 though December 31, 2009, Baker Victory allegedly submitted and received payments for dental clinic services for which Medicaid reimbursements were not authorized. The audit-investigation determined that in addition to performing unnecessary procedures, the clinic allegedly performed procedures that should have been done in one visit over multiple visits, resulting in additional fraudulent reimbursements.

Medicaid regulations authorize reimbursements only for teeth cleanings performed every six months, barring medical necessity. In some cases, Baker Victory patients were allegedly receiving cleanings every three to four months without such medical necessity at the taxpayers’ expense. In other cases – in violation of Medicaid regulations that required Baker Victory to perform and bill for cleanings, X-rays, and dental exams in one office visit – the Center allegedly performed such procedures over separate visits, thereby enabling it to collect more money from the Medicaid program.
Baker Victory Services, meanwhile, issued its own news release Monday. It reads:
On Monday, January 9, 2012, the New York Attorney General released news of a settlement between the State and the Baker Victory Services Dental Center. Baker Victory Services has paid $325,000 as a result of a Medicaid Audit which reviewed a random sampling of patient documentation between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2009. However, Baker Victory Services denies being involved with any intentional misrepresentations or fraudulent activities.

The Baker Victory Services Dental Center is an area expert in providing dental care to individuals with physical, developmental and behavioral disabilities. A number of the agency's patients have profound mental retardation, cerebral palsy, genetic abnormalities, autism, seizure disorders and other disabling conditions. Individuals with profound disabilities are unable to care for their own dental hygiene, and it is extremely difficult for caregivers to attend to routine brushing and flossing. As a result, this population is at high risk for dental infection and severe health conditions caused by neglected or insufficient dental care.

James Casion, CEO of Baker Victory Services, explains the need for more frequent dental visits for a disabled individual. "Day-to-day dental hygiene is impossible for a profoundly disabled individual to attend to and challenging for caregivers, therefore, in many cases, the individual benefits greatly from having four routine dental cleanings annually as compared to two. It is far more comfortable and cost effective for a disabled individual to receive more frequent preventative care than to be possibly subjected to the trauma and expense of emergency hospital visits. This practice is allowed by the State Department of Health, which encourages this treatment plan as long as it is properly documented."

The Medicaid audit claimed that Baker Victory Services did not appropriately document the medical necessity for a number of cases. "Because an individual's developmental disability does not change from visit to visit, we acknowledge that we did not thoroughly document the medical necessity of quarterly appointments at every visit," Casion explained further. "Since the time of the audit, BVS has enhanced its documentation procedure to demonstrate the medical need each time a patient is seen."

The audit also claimed BVS provided services over two visits that could have been provided in one. "Once again, this practice is for the comfort of a patient with profound developmental disabilities," Casion stated. "A dental visit that involves sitting in a dental treatment chair, or wheelchair, with one's mouth open for an extended period, typically causes anxiety for a disabled individual. The objective is to lessen this discomfort by spreading out the treatment over two visits."

Dr. Anthony David DiNozzi threatens FBI

Ex-Youngwood dentist held in threats 01/10/2012 3:00 AM By Paul Peirce, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
A former Youngwood dentist is slated to appear in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh today after federal agents raided his home late Friday after he allegedly threatened to kill an FBI agent.

Anthony David DiNozzi, 44, who lives with his parents at 714 Kennedy Way, is charged with threatening to kill FBI Special Agent Gregory A. Heeb.

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed yesterday, Special Agent Jeffery H. Tisak alleges that DiNozzi telephoned Heeb at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the FBI office in Pittsburgh and left a death threat on his office telephone answering machine.

″Hey, this is DiNozzi. How you doing, buddy?″ DiNozzi stated in the recording, Tisak said.

Tisak alleges that DiNozzi then swore at Heeb and DiNozzi then claimed that numerous FBI agents across the country were listening because ″I'm a witness for Eric Holder.″

″You call me again, I'll have you killed. In defense, do you understand that, you freak?″ DiNozzi allegedly said.

DiNozzi then continued a profanity-laced tirade against Heeb. He also is accused of telephoning Chief U.S. Judge Robert S. Lasnik in Seattle and federal agents there, demanding they prosecute Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Agents subsequently traced the call to DiNozzi's residence.

DiNozzi had his dentistry license suspended in Pennsylvania in 2001, according to state records, and moved his practice to Ohio, where he was convicted in Newark, Ohio, in 2007 for Medicaid fraud.

According to the affidavit filed by Tisak, Heeb and DiNozzi encountered each other during an incident on Feb. 17, 2011, at Pittsburgh International Airport, where airport security flagged DiNozzi as ″a suspicious person″ and DiNozzi subsequently identified himself as a federal agent. Ultimately, no criminal charges were filed in that incident.

Court documents state that about a month after the airport incident, Heeb received a telephone voice message from a person claiming to be a bailiff for a federal judge in Seattle and recommending that the agent telephone Lasnik over an ongoing case. Federal court officials in Seattle subsequently identified DiNozzi as the caller and alleged the suspended dentist had repeatedly called Lasnik in Seattle.

The FBI interviewed DiNozzi in response to those calls, but no criminal charges were filed.

″After the interview, DiNozzi's calls to the court and the Seattle field office stopped″ until Thursday's telephone call to Heeb.

DiNozzi remains in federal custody in the Allegheny County Jail.

Visit to Nashville Small Smiles Headquaters

Visited Small Smiles headquarters in Nashville recently. (618 Church Street) Just checking things out , seeing what happening, that sort of thing. I decided to take a picture of the building directory while on my way to the ground floor restrooms.









There is a lot of action in this old historic building for some reason. Groups of people being lead here and there. I could have sworn I saw Mike Lindley get off the elevator.

I will say the folks rambling around the place do a lot of chatting, especially getting on and off the elevators. Also sounds carry great in the building and the walls in the ground floor restroom carry sound very well.

I thought I heard a group of ladies chatting about several "centers" closing. The number I thought I heard was 20, but that could have been twenty places closing that had nothing to do with Small Smiles Dental centers, who knows.