State pulls license of Medford, Oregon dentist
March 27, 2012
By Mark Freeman
Mail TribuneState pulls license of Medford dentist | MailTribune.com
A Medford dentist had his license suspended and faces possible revocation after allegedly falsifying dental charts, scamming dental-insurance companies and obtaining marijuana from a patient, state records show.
The Oregon Board of Dentistry ordered the indefinite emergency license suspension for Bongmin An, 43, calling him "a serious danger to public health and safety," according to the March 12 suspension order.
"This happens very infrequently," said Patrick Braatz, the board's executive director. "I've been with the board nine years, and this is probably only the second or third emergency suspension."
An has been licensed for dentistry in Oregon since January 2002 and practiced general dentistry at the Medford Dental Clinic on East Barnett Road in Medford, according to board of dentistry records.
An investigation by the Oregon board revealed that, between August 2009 and this past January, An provided dental treatment for numerous patients but failed to maintain chart notes for any of his patients, according to the dentistry board.
When chart notes were requested to validate insurance claims, An allegedly fabricated them to satisfy requests from dental-insurance companies, the board order states.
The board also has information alleging that An altered dates of treatment of patients in claims sent to dental-insurance companies so the companies would pay benefits for patients who were not entitled to them.
Board investigators also turned up allegations that An had obtained marijuana from a patient identified only as ML, but the board order did not specify when and how many times An allegedly received marijuana from the patient, the board order states.
Braatz said he did not know whether the marijuana was allegedly used as payment in lieu of dental work.
The order alleges that on at least one occasion An stored marijuana in the clinic's freezer and then offered to share it with his employees, the order states.
An was informed of the suspension March 12 just after the board vote, Braatz said. He has requested a hearing on the board's order before an administrative law judge, and one will be scheduled within 30 days, Braatz said.
An did not return telephone calls Monday seeking comment.
The suspension was immediate because An's alleged use of controlled substances "and his authority to prescribe controlled subscription drugs, and his failure to accurately document treatment that was provided to patients poses a great risk of harm to them," the order states.
