You know what I've been thinking?
Since the State Of North Carolina, it appears, is going to let Tish Ballance open up another medicaid dental clinic...
...and Michael DeRose be the "consultant" for Dr. Raf Rivera's new and improved Smile Starters.
....why don't they just save the children years of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and thousands of night terrors and write Tish Ballance, Raf Rivera, and Michael DeRose a check and keep their asses at home away from the children!
I mean, honestly, they haven't stopped them from getting into the medicaid piggy bank, nor has the state pulled their licenses so evidently they want them to have the money....
...cut the assholes a check!
Monday, April 28, 2008
The Smile Behind Small Smiles-Atif Abdulmalik
This is "what's his name" when I first started reporting about Small Smiles as was listed on Arcapita's website.
This is "what's his name" as shown on Arcaptia's website now.
Wonder if this dude's got any kids he would like to take to Small Smiles for some Dental Care?
Here is the press release where Arcapita admits it's in with "existing management"
1-15-2007
ARCAPITA COMPLETES LARGEST US CORPORATE TRANSACTION
MANAMA (January 15, 2007) - Arcapita Bank B.S.C.(c), a leading international investment firm headquartered in Bahrain, announced today that it and its affiliates, together with existing management, have acquired Sanus Holdings, LLC, operating as FORBA, a leading dental practice management company that focuses on providing dental care to underprivileged children in the United States.
Headquartered in Tennessee, FORBA manages the operations of 50 dental clinics across the United States, targeted exclusively at serving the needs of children eligible for dental care benefits under Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP), which between them provide comprehensive healthcare for over 32 million children. FORBA’s innovative business model, delivering centralized buying, economies of scale and operational efficiencies, has allowed the company to build a dominant position in its market, and according to management, during 2006 FORBA had 3 times more patient visits than its nearest competitor. FORBA’s projected revenues for 2006 are $142.2 million.
Commenting on the transaction, Atif Abdulmalik, CEO of Arcapita, said: “We believe FORBA’s experienced management team, with in-depth knowledge of the Medicaid healthcare sector, is well placed to continue the company’s growth strategy which has resulted in the company’s revenues growing at a compound rate of more than 40 per cent over the past 6 years.”
The acquisition was overseen from Arcapita’s US office in Atlanta. Charles Ogburn, head of Global Corporate Investment, commented, “We expect FORBA’s growth to remain robust, as management rolls out their proven strategy of opening and developing new clinics, with an expectation of opening at least 12 to 18 clinics per year over the next five years. FORBA is the leader in an underserved market, where only 25% of a total possible market of almost 40 million customers is currently being addressed. The company has a proven business model of building large, efficiently managed clinics that operate profitably in the Medicaid/SCHIP environment.”
This acquisition is Arcapita’s largest US corporate acquisition and joins other recent transactions such as the $4.2 billion acquisition of Viridian Group plc, the Northern Ireland electricity utility and the €620 million acquisition of Paroc Group, the leading manufacturer of insulation products headquartered in Finland.
Warning For Employees of Smile Starters
Here is a warning posted as a comment from someone:
The “bay window” that someone talked about at Smile Starters is a window looking into the HYGIENE department. If a parent stays there a little too long, they are told they cannot stand there. There are also private rooms for “problem” hygiene patients. AND if a patient is having anything else done but a cleaning, parents cannot watch.
These “current employees of Smile Starters” who are so quick to defend the “owners” — who, by the way, are owners on paper only, since the corporation REALLY owns the practices — should open their eyes and see that they are lied to daily, about who owns the company, who is ultimately in charge, who is REALLY behind the clinic, etc.etc.
They should ALL read this website.
No wonder so many of the employees are leaving to go work for Tish Ballance. HAH !!!!
Like that’s an improvement.
Professionals can’t even get liability insurance because the NC DENTAL SOCIETY and ALL the insurance companies are forbidden to write policies for anyone who works for her.
Good thing she provides insurance for her employees — BUT whenever they leave her employ they are SOL because they can’t get their own insurance.
I’ve heard that a million times from all the professionals who were smart enough to distance themselves from Tish Ballance, Mike DeRose, Ryan Root, and EVERYONE else who is and was associated with these people. What a tangled web we weave…
Sunday, April 27, 2008
DeRose's Own Football Stadium-Give Me A Break!
photo by: Chris McLean
Colorado State University-Pueblo's Thunderwolve's new 13 million dollar stadium, named the "Ed and Neta DeRose Thunderbowl" in honor of the major contributor and local dental clinic duo. (choking on using the word, DeRose and honor in the same sentence)
Honestly, where do these people get off anyway. At times, these people seem to be legands in their own minds. You would think they were some kind of oil sultans to see the money they spend and donate. You read the glowing bios (they probably wrote themselves) and you will hear how they, well, really Ed then Michael, donated their lives to providing dental care to the poor children in Colorado and 17 other states.
Reading that crap one would expect to see them dressed in drab missionary ware so to speak, not having this honor or that stadium or living in 3+ million dollar homes and such. Really!
Has anyone not ever asked how that was so profitable!
Where's The New Mangement @ SmileStarters?
At the Link Below there is another ad place in February 2008, listing Roger Walters as the contact to SmileStarter Dental Clinics in North Carolina. The ad says Michael DeRose is the owner.
http://ratemds.com/social/?q=node/28873&did=148374
It give Roger Walters email address as walters.rdm.gmail.com.
rdm stands for Root Dental Management as in Ryan Root.
Type the name google Ryan Root Colorado and you want to take guess what you get... just click here for the surprise...............
It's clear that Ryan Root has been in business with Michael DeRose and still is in business with Michael DeRose.
So where's the new management SmileStarters keeps talking about. As far as I can tell back in February it was Root Dental Management and it currently Root Dental Management. Now maybe they are claiming that BBJ Dental Management isn't in charge anymore, but that isn't saying a whole lot now is it?
Just because Brad Bryson and Johnson Enterprises (BBJ) isn't there anymore doesn't mean much. Not that I'm sure Brad Bryson and Dan Johnson aren't still getting money out of this whole venture anyway. Hard to believe DeRose would throw his cousin and brother in law out of the money pool. (I believe Brad Bryson is DeRose's Cousin, Dan Johnson-married DeRose's sister, but I could be wrong.)
Think maybe they are just going to say that Michael DeRose is a "Consultant" with SmileStarters?
It's a question worth asking, but since he never actually physically practiced dentistry in North Carolina, nothing changed there either did it. Just replace Tish Ballance's name with Dr. Rivera and it's the same ole crap isn't it.
http://ratemds.com/social/?q=node/28873&did=148374
It give Roger Walters email address as walters.rdm.gmail.com.
rdm stands for Root Dental Management as in Ryan Root.
Type the name google Ryan Root Colorado and you want to take guess what you get... just click here for the surprise...............
It's clear that Ryan Root has been in business with Michael DeRose and still is in business with Michael DeRose.
So where's the new management SmileStarters keeps talking about. As far as I can tell back in February it was Root Dental Management and it currently Root Dental Management. Now maybe they are claiming that BBJ Dental Management isn't in charge anymore, but that isn't saying a whole lot now is it?
Just because Brad Bryson and Johnson Enterprises (BBJ) isn't there anymore doesn't mean much. Not that I'm sure Brad Bryson and Dan Johnson aren't still getting money out of this whole venture anyway. Hard to believe DeRose would throw his cousin and brother in law out of the money pool. (I believe Brad Bryson is DeRose's Cousin, Dan Johnson-married DeRose's sister, but I could be wrong.)
Think maybe they are just going to say that Michael DeRose is a "Consultant" with SmileStarters?
It's a question worth asking, but since he never actually physically practiced dentistry in North Carolina, nothing changed there either did it. Just replace Tish Ballance's name with Dr. Rivera and it's the same ole crap isn't it.
4-23-08: Parents Still Complaining About Dentists Abusing Children at Small Smiles
The Below comment was posted on 4-23-2008 from a parent in New York.
It appears despite all the rhetoric the FORBA/Small Smiles Public Relations machine is putting out saying things are 'achangin'. Not one thing has changed as I've been saying all along.
Daily across the country, Small Smile's is continuing to abuse children, nothing can be more clear.
Even after numerous investigative reports from people such as Roberta Baskin, with WJLA'sDeborah Sherman 9News' Investigative Team in Denver, Karen Schideler in Wichita, Kansas and Stewart Watson with WCNC in Charlotte, NC exposing Small Smiles and other DeRose Dental Clinics they refuse to change their ways.
4-23-08
I-Team in Washinton, DC,
To Kayleigh:
I understand how terrible you feel. You put your trust in these people to give your children the care they deserves and you were violated. They clearly advertise in such a way to get your confidence in their ability to give children the utmost in care and treatment yet they continue everyday to violate that trust as well as several ethics, and probably a few laws.
It's up to you and people like you to put a stop to this. Recently (April 1, 2008 as a matter of fact) there was a story on WRGB in New Albany about this very thing. For people to think these stories are isolated cases would be a huge mistake.
I hope you called the 800 number I have posted as well as file complaints with your state's dental board and attorney general.
I urge you to step forward and to take action, write to everyone you can about this, post where ever you can about this and file formal complaints to the places mentioned above, as well as your state legislators and call the PRESS!
It appears despite all the rhetoric the FORBA/Small Smiles Public Relations machine is putting out saying things are 'achangin'. Not one thing has changed as I've been saying all along.
Daily across the country, Small Smile's is continuing to abuse children, nothing can be more clear.
Even after numerous investigative reports from people such as Roberta Baskin, with WJLA'sDeborah Sherman 9News' Investigative Team in Denver, Karen Schideler in Wichita, Kansas and Stewart Watson with WCNC in Charlotte, NC exposing Small Smiles and other DeRose Dental Clinics they refuse to change their ways.
4-23-08
I-Team in Washinton, DC,
To Kayleigh:
I understand how terrible you feel. You put your trust in these people to give your children the care they deserves and you were violated. They clearly advertise in such a way to get your confidence in their ability to give children the utmost in care and treatment yet they continue everyday to violate that trust as well as several ethics, and probably a few laws.
It's up to you and people like you to put a stop to this. Recently (April 1, 2008 as a matter of fact) there was a story on WRGB in New Albany about this very thing. For people to think these stories are isolated cases would be a huge mistake.
I hope you called the 800 number I have posted as well as file complaints with your state's dental board and attorney general.
I urge you to step forward and to take action, write to everyone you can about this, post where ever you can about this and file formal complaints to the places mentioned above, as well as your state legislators and call the PRESS!
Friday, April 25, 2008
DeRose Admits To Pueblo Newspaper FORBA, LLC is "Primarily Owned " By DeRose Family
Here's a link to the article if it's not been pulled by now, if the link doesn't work try googles cache. Every now and then I come across an old article or news report that was here one day and gone the next.... hmmm. Anyway if you have access to the newspaper at libraries etc it was in the business section of the April 10, 2008 edition. At this point I think they have reqested google remove the full story from the cashe, but I might be wrong.
Seems like in denying one he's admitting to even more sins!
In this article he's trying to say that the DeRose family still owns the FORBA Small Smiles clinics and this time it's the Medicaid Dental Clinics-Smile Starters-Carolina Dental Center, whatever name he's using this week, that he sold to Tennessee FORBA in 2006 or whenever it was! Let's face it, he's not sold anything to anybody now has he?
I bet one thing about now, not a sole at Arcapita has a clue to what they "invested" in.
What he failed to disclose is that his "Tennessee based" FORBA is also DeRose, offices in the exact same building, the exact same suite number as DeRose Children's Dental Center back in the day!!! I've got links to documents across the land showing this in great detail.
Plus, to top it off, didn't DeRose say just a few days ago to another reporter that he sold those North Carolina Medicaid Dental Clinics-Smile Starters to Dr. Raf Rivera!
I guess by now one can see that it's easy to tell if any DeRose is lying.
His mouth is moving!
Have they not got a dorm in a Federal Prison for Ed DeRose, Michael DeRose, Dan DeRose, William Mueller and Adolph Padula yet?
4/10/2008
The settlement, announced Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Justice, involves Medicaid Dental Center, co-owned by Drs. Michael DeRose of Pueblo and Leticia Ballance of North Carolina.
The federal government had alleged that the clinics presented "false or fraudulent claims . . . to the North Carolina Medicaid program by billing for medically unnecessary dental services on indigent children."
DeRose told The Pueblo Chieftain that the clinics had no connection with the dozens of FORBA clinics nationwide owned primarily by Pueblo's DeRose family. Those clinics were sold in fall 2006 to the Tennessee-based FORBA company for an undisclosed amount.
"MDC was not required to, nor did it, admit any of the government's allegations in order to resolve this matter," DeRose said. "The treatment that is the subject of the settlement was rendered more than 4 years ago. Since that time period, MDC has voluntarily implemented a number of measures to ensure that its dentists are providing quality dental care which meets or exceeds the standard of care in North Carolina."
The Department of Justice said the conduct at issue occurred between 2001-03, and that "the settlement is limited to claims submitted to the North Carolina Medicaid program and does not involve other states . . . During this period, MDC operated dental clinics in Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem, N.C."
The government claimed that MDC obtained reimbursement for pulpotomies that allegedly were not needed. Pulpotomies, sometimes referred to as "baby root canals," are considered medically necessary in pediatric dental cases when an infection spreads into the pulp chamber of the tooth, requiring the pulp's removal, the Department of Justice explained.
The government also alleged that the clinics placed stainless steel crowns that were not medically necessary.
As a result of the MDC settlement, the North Carolina Medicaid program established a limit of six stainless steel crowns per appointment that it would reimburse, and a limit of six pulpotomy procedures per patient per appointment, the Department of Justice said.
DeRose said in his statement that "we are pleased this matter is resolved . . . The philosophy of the dental clinics is to provide top quality care for children regardless of their economic or social condition. We believe in treating our young patients and their families with the utmost dignity and high quality care."
The settlement required MDC to reimburse the government for "the amount deemed wrongfully billed to the Medicaid program, and to pay substantial penalties to the program. MDC payment to the government represents over twice the amount that MDC allegedly received improperly from the North Carolina Medicaid program."
DeRose and Ballance were disciplined by the North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners in 2005, the Department of Justice said, adding however that regular inspections since then "have found MDC's clinics to be substantially in compliance with its standards since 2005."
Daniel Levinson, inspector general of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said in the Department of Justice statement: "The Medicaid program is intended to assist the most vulnerable Americans and to help ensure that they receive necessary health services, not to unjustly enrich others at the expense of indigent persons."
DeRose said the settlement was reached "to avoid the delay, uncertainty, inconvenience and expense of protracted litigation."
Seems like in denying one he's admitting to even more sins!
In this article he's trying to say that the DeRose family still owns the FORBA Small Smiles clinics and this time it's the Medicaid Dental Clinics-Smile Starters-Carolina Dental Center, whatever name he's using this week, that he sold to Tennessee FORBA in 2006 or whenever it was! Let's face it, he's not sold anything to anybody now has he?
I bet one thing about now, not a sole at Arcapita has a clue to what they "invested" in.
What he failed to disclose is that his "Tennessee based" FORBA is also DeRose, offices in the exact same building, the exact same suite number as DeRose Children's Dental Center back in the day!!! I've got links to documents across the land showing this in great detail.
Plus, to top it off, didn't DeRose say just a few days ago to another reporter that he sold those North Carolina Medicaid Dental Clinics-Smile Starters to Dr. Raf Rivera!
I guess by now one can see that it's easy to tell if any DeRose is lying.
His mouth is moving!
Have they not got a dorm in a Federal Prison for Ed DeRose, Michael DeRose, Dan DeRose, William Mueller and Adolph Padula yet?
4/10/2008
The clinics in North Carolina are co-owned by a Pueblo dentist.
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A chain of dental clinics in North Carolina has paid $10.05 million to the federal government to resolve allegations of Medicaid fraud.The settlement, announced Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Justice, involves Medicaid Dental Center, co-owned by Drs. Michael DeRose of Pueblo and Leticia Ballance of North Carolina.
The federal government had alleged that the clinics presented "false or fraudulent claims . . . to the North Carolina Medicaid program by billing for medically unnecessary dental services on indigent children."
DeRose told The Pueblo Chieftain that the clinics had no connection with the dozens of FORBA clinics nationwide owned primarily by Pueblo's DeRose family. Those clinics were sold in fall 2006 to the Tennessee-based FORBA company for an undisclosed amount.
"MDC was not required to, nor did it, admit any of the government's allegations in order to resolve this matter," DeRose said. "The treatment that is the subject of the settlement was rendered more than 4 years ago. Since that time period, MDC has voluntarily implemented a number of measures to ensure that its dentists are providing quality dental care which meets or exceeds the standard of care in North Carolina."
The Department of Justice said the conduct at issue occurred between 2001-03, and that "the settlement is limited to claims submitted to the North Carolina Medicaid program and does not involve other states . . . During this period, MDC operated dental clinics in Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem, N.C."
The government claimed that MDC obtained reimbursement for pulpotomies that allegedly were not needed. Pulpotomies, sometimes referred to as "baby root canals," are considered medically necessary in pediatric dental cases when an infection spreads into the pulp chamber of the tooth, requiring the pulp's removal, the Department of Justice explained.
The government also alleged that the clinics placed stainless steel crowns that were not medically necessary.
As a result of the MDC settlement, the North Carolina Medicaid program established a limit of six stainless steel crowns per appointment that it would reimburse, and a limit of six pulpotomy procedures per patient per appointment, the Department of Justice said.
DeRose said in his statement that "we are pleased this matter is resolved . . . The philosophy of the dental clinics is to provide top quality care for children regardless of their economic or social condition. We believe in treating our young patients and their families with the utmost dignity and high quality care."
The settlement required MDC to reimburse the government for "the amount deemed wrongfully billed to the Medicaid program, and to pay substantial penalties to the program. MDC payment to the government represents over twice the amount that MDC allegedly received improperly from the North Carolina Medicaid program."
DeRose and Ballance were disciplined by the North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners in 2005, the Department of Justice said, adding however that regular inspections since then "have found MDC's clinics to be substantially in compliance with its standards since 2005."
Daniel Levinson, inspector general of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said in the Department of Justice statement: "The Medicaid program is intended to assist the most vulnerable Americans and to help ensure that they receive necessary health services, not to unjustly enrich others at the expense of indigent persons."
DeRose said the settlement was reached "to avoid the delay, uncertainty, inconvenience and expense of protracted litigation."
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Small Smiles In MassHealth Lists DeRose's Uncle-Adolph Padula
Here is a form listing all the dentist that accept Medicaid in the MassHealth (Massachusetts). You can enter "Small Smiles" or "Padula" where it says "Find" and keep searching through the documents using the down arrow beside the "Find" box.
Check out the names of all the dentist associated with Small Smiles in the different cities in the state!
See a pattern here, I sure do!
And guess what, Michael DeRose's uncle, Adolph Padula is on the list in at least one of the Small Smiles offices and this list is current 4-22-08! And DeRose says he "sold" Small Smiles... yeah, whatever!
Check out the names of all the dentist associated with Small Smiles in the different cities in the state!
See a pattern here, I sure do!
And guess what, Michael DeRose's uncle, Adolph Padula is on the list in at least one of the Small Smiles offices and this list is current 4-22-08! And DeRose says he "sold" Small Smiles... yeah, whatever!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Michael DeRose buys record priced home in Pueblo -2003
Michael DeRose bought a home last year in Pueblo West overlooking Lake Pueblo for $3.4 million -- a record price in Pueblo County for what the Assessor's Office terms "a nonagricultural based residence."
link
i took my kids to small smiles last week and it was the worst experience of my life. I went in with my 3 year old son and he screamed through out the entire procedure. he was strapped down and by the time he left he had broken blood vessels all over his neck and face from screaming. the only time they stopped was to restrap him down. their grandmother went in with my daughter and when she came out she has broken blood vessels in her eye from screaming. i've been sick to my stomach over this since i left there. i feel as though i let these people violate my kids.