Senator Grassley says the problem is rooted in the structure of these chains, “I’m finding in this investigation that there are people that know nothing about dentistry are saying you got to see so many people, you got to do so much work for each one, and in a sense, gaming the system,” There are legitimate concerns that children are receiving unnecessary care, sometimes in a traumatic way, and taxpayers are paying for it.”3– Sen. Charles Grassley (R) Iowasaying that it claims that dentists own the practices but in reality they do not have control.1
The Senator also states, “These “owner dentists” are effectively ghost owners who maintain none of the traditional aspects of ownership of their operations, allowing the corporate investors to have control over clinical operations,” 2
Ghost owners, fake owners, throw away owners, call them what you like.
They are, in truth, are criminals, assisting, aiding and abetting the commission of serious crimes. Crimes against children and crimes against American citizens. Not for free, but for a piece of the pie. They willing lend their name, their professional license and their signature to assist in child abuse, insurance fraud and Medicaid fraud.
As Robin Lockwood, of the Ocean Dental Chain, can attest, when the law comes knocking, they are not going to be knocking on the door at 618 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee or at NCDR, LLC’s headquarters in Atlanta…
Here is one of Small Smiles Dental Centers “ghost dentist”, that Senator Grassley was referring to – Dr. Jodi B. Kuhn
Doesn’t look much like a criminal does she? She looks like she could be a very loving and protective mom.
Wrong.
She seems to not be loving enough to make sure she is not the next Robin Lockwood facing 10 years of prison time.
Dr. Jodi B. Kuhn claims to own 7 dental clinics, quite a feat to be so young. She claims to own:
- SMALL SMILES OF AKRON, LLC - JODI KUHN, DDS AND ELIZABETH GEIER, DMD
- SMALL SMILES OF CINCINNATI LLC - JODI KUHN, DDS AND ELIZABETH GEIER, DMD
- SMALL SMILES OF COLUMBUS, LLC - JODI KUHN, DDS AND ELIZABETH GEIER, DMD
- SMALL SMILES OF DAYTON, LLC - JODI KUHN, DDS ELIZABETH GEIER, DMD
- SMALL SMILES OF ROSELAWN, LLC - JODI KUHN, DDS ELIZABETH GEIER, DMD
- SMALL SMILES OF TOLEDO, LLC - JODI KUHN, DDS AND OLIVIA CROOM, DDS
- SMALL SMILES OF LOUISVILLE, PSC
(I see they are still using her rubber stamp signature…and even with all eyes upon you swearing you don’t own the Louisville dental center…this was just filed 2 weeks ago!!)
Dr. Kuhn worked at the Roselawn clinic until October of 2011 when she transferred to the Denver clinic. The Denver clinic was having production issues after a little x-ray scam went belly up and Kuhn is a top producer. Being a top producer, Dr. Kuhn got VIP tour of the Colorado clinic by Mike Lindley in the flesh. She agreed to the deal and moved to Colorado.
Dr. Elizabeth Kay Geier, another “ghost owner” is the newest co-owner with Dr. Kuhn-there have been others. Dr. Geier comes from the Albuquerque –1 clinic. Geier has been with Small Smiles since August 2007 and was granted a dental license in Ohio in July 2010.
Hey owner dentists, like Jodi Kuhn, Gloria King, Monica Switzer, Randy Ellis, Karen Chu, and others you need to see this. YES, they will throw your butts under the bus in heart beat!!
Small Smiles Letter to Senator Grassley 11 29 2011
Small Smiles letter to Senator Grassley's investigators -12 16 2011
1,2,3 Heath, David. (2012, June 30). “Evidence of overtreatment at dental clinics serving poor children”. Center for Public Integrity - iwatchnews.org
