Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Story of child abused by ReachOut Healthcare America Big Smiles Mobile Dental Van pulled from MyFox Phoenix website. Why? Someone’s got some ‘splainin’ to do!

On June 12, 2012 MyFox Phoenix aired a nearly 10 report on ReachOut Healthcare America’s mobile dental clinic abusing a Camp Verde, AZ special needs child.

Below is what the webpage looked like the day the story aired.

videowashere

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is what the website looks like today, no video investigation to be found.

POOF! GONE!

They did manage to leave up some comments from an under-educated person who calls himself Dale Earnhardt, which is slanderous, to DE, by the way.

myfox10videogone

The promotional post MyFox Phoenix put up on their Facebook page about the story also seems to be missing.

Just after this story aired, I heard that many parents called in with similar complaints, even some insiders contacted Fox 5 ready to blow the whistle on ReachOut Healthcare. So many in fact that MyFox Phoenix was doing a follow-up story with more damning news about ReachOut . It was so explosive they thought it would be picked up by the National network.

What happened, MyFox Phoenix? What did you do with all that evidence of child abuse that came pouring into your station? Why will you not return the Gagnon’s phone calls.

There may be good reason it’s gone, but I’m not finding it!

I think MyFox Phoenix might have some ‘splainin’ to do!

Yeah, it’s quite a story, just wondering if the pulling of this story from the Internet is an even bigger story!

It’s not like this was some little 45 second news story about a fender bender at the corner of Walnut and Main. This was (is) a HUGE story that had been worked on for a very long time! 

So who pressured MyFox Phoenix to remove it…?  Let me guess….

To contact MY FOX Phoenix:myfoxphoenix

KSAZ FOX 10 & KUTP My45
511 W. Adams Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003
MAIN LINE: (602) 257-1234
NEWS ROOM: (602) 262-5109
WEB SITES:
www.myfoxphoenix.com
www.my45.com
www.mydatingplacephx.com
MOBILE SITE:
wap.myfoxphoenix.com

 

Viewer Comments & "Had Enough?" Segments:
viewernews@myfoxphoenix.com

(Love this one, “Had Enough”, just not too much it appears!)

Someone unemployed?

 

toothsmiley

Shiela Sawyer Job Hunting

Monday, July 09, 2012

The state of Texas is not done with Dr. Richard Malouf–Orthodontics Fraud King of Texas - and his All Smiles Dental Centers

 

wk



 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brandy Dietz
bdietz@waterskraus.com
800.226.9880

Waters & Kraus Client Takes on Dental Medicaid Fraud in Texas

Texas AG Joins Whistleblower Lawsuit Against Dallas Dentist and Dental Clinics
DALLAS — July 9, 2012 — Dallas-based law firm Waters & Kraus, LLP announces that Dr. Christine Ellis has sued Dr. Richard Malouf and several All Smiles clinics, alleging violations of the Texas Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act.
Dr. Ellis is represented by Waters & Kraus and Jim Moriarty of Moriarty Leyendecker in Houston. Her lawsuit was recently joined by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.

"We at Waters & Kraus are proud to represent Dr. Ellis and to be a part of the fight against dental Medicaid fraud," said Waters & Kraus attorney Dan Hargrove. "Whistleblowers like Dr. Ellis represent our best chance to fight serious fraud that drains the public funds and puts important services at risk."

After serving as an auditor for the Office of Inspector General of the Texas Medicaid Program, Dr. Ellis became concerned about dental fraud she had uncovered. When she spoke before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee in April, Dr. Ellis testified to a “flagrancy of fraud that is truly unbelievable." Shortly thereafter, Dr. Ellis filed her whistleblower lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants misrepresented to Medicaid the dental and orthodontic treatment they provided, causing Medicaid to overpay them by many millions of dollars. They allegedly submitted claims for services that were not actually provided or were poorly performed, billed for services that were not medically necessary or were more expensive than those actually provided, and unlawfully recruited patients or paid kickbacks to those who did.

Jim Moriarty, of Moriarty Leyendecker, said, “The courage of Dr. Ellis has shown in reporting these allegations deserves the attention and respect of anyone who cares about public health and the responsible stewardship of taxpayers’ funds. We’re honored to work with Waters & Kraus and Dr. Ellis on this important case.”
If the lawsuit is successful, Dr. Ellis will be entitled to 15 to 25 percent of the recovery, in addition to her costs and attorneys' fees. Whistleblower awards encourage people who know about fraud to come forward. The government relies on citizens like Dr. Ellis to identify and fight fraud.

About Waters & Kraus
Waters & Kraus is a national firm with highly skilled lawyers practicing qui tam whistleblower litigation as well as complex civil litigation in four offices, including Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Baltimore. Our attorneys have decades of experience successfully representing whistleblowers in a variety of fraud cases. Contact us or call our attorneys at 800.226.9880 to learn more about our practice and how we can assist.

About Moriarty Leyendecker
Houston-based Moriarty Leyendecker has represented thousands of consumers in cases involving allegations of healthcare fraud, consumer defects, and securities fraud during the past 20 years.


Brandy C. Dietz | Public Relations Coordinator
3219 McKinney Avenue | Dallas, TX 75204
Toll Free 800-226-9880 | Phone 214-357-6244 | Fax 214-357-7252
www.waterskraus.com

Friday, July 06, 2012

Kool Smiles Frick and Frack together again…

Appears they have reunited! Unlike Martin and Lewis who never reunited Frick (Tu Tran, DDS) and Frack (Thien Pham, DDS) have found their way back into each others arm.

Tran and Pham broke away from Small Smiles in Colorado back in 2002 and started Kool Smiles. A few years ago, Pham broke away and went off on his own. I heard he was “bought out”.

molarmagiclogoThein Pham went on to open a couple of clinics in Arizona called Molar Magic. I hear he scouting out locations in New Mexico to open some clinics.  Frack

 

 

 

tutran

Tu Tran, DDS stayed in the Atlanta area and slapped his name on the door of every Kool Smiles in the nation. I’m guessing he must spend his time taking CE’s and renewing his dental license since he has one in nearly every state.

 

 

 

Now, Tran and Pham are reunited and I have proof! I have proof they had “split the sheet” in 2010 and in 2012 they are sharing the sleeping bag so to speak. Maybe sharing a cell.

KS2010-2012Compare

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You have to admire the copy paper taped to the door these days. It says:

“Kool Smiles Doctors Available to Care for Your Dental Needs Today Are…

Dr. Tu Tran, Dr. Mayfield, Dr. Nkashama, Dr. Jackson,Dr. Duckswork, Dr. Khan, Dr. Ogundipe, Dr. Twardy, Dr. Kalra.

They emphasized “Today”…  but I know dang well all these dentists are NOT available to see to anyone’s dental needs..not today, not tomorrow and not yesterday!

I don’t know what all this means, but you can bet they are up to no good.

Kool Smiles Dental–NCDR,LLC-FFL Partners’ written response to Senators Grassley and Baucus

Anyone buying this load of crap? Of course not. I can’t imagine sitting in my office reading this fairy tale and not getting angry as a wet hen (whatever that is). My blood would be boiling.

Kool Smiles Dental Centers Letter to Senators Grassley and Baucus 02-03-2012

Does your dental malpractice insurance have a $75,000.00 per claim deductible? If you work for Small Smiles it does!

Dentists currently employed by Small Smiles know they are open to lawsuits. The hundreds of malpractice suits on file in three states should make that crystal clear. What might not be so clear is exactly what kind of malpractice coverage they have. It’s not at all what it used to be.

Are you aware you have a $75,000.00 deductible per claim?

75kdedcutable

 

 

 

One single claim could ruin you and once again, Small Smiles the company, walks away unscathed.

The current policy is set to expire in September. I’m thinking getting your own coverage might be the best option. Never trust that wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Indiana AG filed complaint against Allcare Dental and Dentures

 

Complaint filed against Allcare Dental & Dentures

Jul 06, 2012 WNDU.com

allcareThe Indiana attorney general's office has filed an administrative complaint against Allcare Dental & Dentures President Robert Bates for multiple licensing violations.

In January of last year, Allcare Dental & Dentures, which is a national chain of dentist offices, abruptly closed its locations including one in Mishawaka.

According to the complaint filed before the Indiana State Board of Dentistry, the president gave a two-day notice to his Indiana employees that offices would close for two weeks.

Days before the offices were supposed to re-open, he notified his workers that the offices would be closed permanently.

Indiana's attorney general says patients were left without their dentist, their records, dental devices and did not get a refund.

The Indiana State Board of Dentistry will decide if a violation occurred and if so, what disciplinary action there will be.

The board is tentatively scheduled to hold a hearing on the complaint in October.

Wednesday, July 04, 2012

“We’re finding that these dental practices, under pressure from owners who are not licensed dentists”–Sen.Chuck Grassley.

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.

lockwoodOn June 21, Robin Lockwood, DDS of the Ocean Dental chain was arrested for Medicaid fraud. She could face up to 10 years in Federal prison.  Robin looks to be about the same age as the Small Smiles dentist below.

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

JodiBKuhn2

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:

  1. SMALL SMILES OF AKRON, LLC - JODI KUHN, DDS AND ELIZABETH GEIER, DMD
  2. SMALL SMILES OF CINCINNATI LLC - JODI KUHN, DDS AND ELIZABETH GEIER, DMD
  3. SMALL SMILES OF COLUMBUS, LLC - JODI KUHN, DDS AND ELIZABETH GEIER, DMD
  4. SMALL SMILES OF DAYTON, LLC - JODI KUHN, DDS ELIZABETH GEIER, DMD
  5. SMALL SMILES OF ROSELAWN, LLC - JODI KUHN, DDS ELIZABETH GEIER, DMD
  6. SMALL SMILES OF TOLEDO, LLC - JODI KUHN, DDS AND OLIVIA CROOM, DDS
  7. SMALL SMILES OF LOUISVILLE, PSC
Small Smiles of Louisville PSC 6-13-2012

  (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

No one has stopped the “Child Abuse for Medicaid Fraud” scheme; not yet anyway.

1997 – Drs. Michael and Eddie DeRose along with Dan “put coke machines in schools” DeRose started opening dental centers to abuse children so they could defraud Medicaid, then build a football stadium in their own honor.

2001 – Dr. Tu M. Tran and Dr. Thien Chi Pham were dentists working at Smile High Dentistry in Colorado. Smiles High Dentistry is part of the Small Smiles Dental chain.

2002 – Tran and Pham were convinced to move to Atlanta and open up Kool Smiles, starting with 2 centers.

2004 – Friedman, Fleishcher and Lowe bought the centers and established NCDR, LLC to be the dental management division of FFL.

2006 – First Islamic Bank (aka Arcaptia aka Crescent Capital) gave the DeRoses $435-million for the dental centers.

2007 – In Georgia two companies who over saw Georgia's Medicaid benefits kicked Kool Smiles out of their network of dental providers for it’s Medicaid patients. Kool Smiles said it was because Wellcare wanted to cut it’s own costs! Wellcare said it was because children being abused for profit and fraud. Georgia agreed with Wellcare, and found over 6% of all Kool Smiles patients files didn’t need the care they received and over 3% of the treatment was substandard.

2012 - We are still where we were in 2007 with Kool Smiles – children abused, substandard treatment, fraud.

With Small Smiles nothing much has moved either. Pretty close to the same as in 2003 when reports of its child abuse first surfaced – 11 very long years have passed and we are zooming toward year number 12.

Kool Smiles continued to grow to over 120 dental centers today Small Smiles topped out at 72 or 73. Hundreds of dentists, who likely worked for one of these mills, broke off and opened their own smaller versions of this business mode- Abuse and Defraud for Profit. Adventure Dental and Vision is just one example. Their “owner” also worked for a Small Smiles Dental Center.

Small Smiles alone, treats 1-million children a year.

There have been numerous news reports on Kool Smiles Dental Centers since it’s beginning. There have been at least 72 73 news reports on Small Smiles Dental Centers since 2003.

Each report, from coast to coast, contained the exact same allegations:

  • Children being restrained and physically assaulted.
  • Unnecessary overtreatment.
  • Parents filing complaints and nothing being done.
  • A State or Federal Agency is Investigating.

There have been a few letters mailed out scolding the business practices, a tiny weeny fine or two – (that has not been paid yet) and a couple of Corporate Integrity Agreements that the executives wiped their asses on. (well, it’s true!) An a few “official” reports. Personally I’m not sure what a “report” actually accomplishes.

Here is reporter, Sydney Freedberg's report for Bloomberg, published just last week!

Today is July 4, 2012 and hundreds of these little houses of horrors will open their doors tomorrow.

So far Small Smiles has seen:

  • $24-million dollar fine they have not paid
  • A 66 page Corporate Integrity Agreement they have not followed
  • A few scolding letters with no bite
  • A $230,00 fine – they have not paid. (the actual fines for all the violations amounted to millions, but they got a discount)
  • One measly dental center in Manassas, Virginia they swear they do not own had to be transferred to a new owner
  • The Oxon Hill dental center closed for two days of training! I’m NOT kidding!!
  • Checks from the Medicaid fund still arriving in their bank accounts daily.

Hell, no wonder everyone wants in on the action.

CSHM Breach of Corporate Integrity Agreement March13 2012 <p>&nbsp;</p>

On March 7, 2012, just days after filing bankruptcy, their independent monitor did a check of the Oxon Hill Small Smiles and turned up all kinds of problems. On May 15, 2012 HHS once again sent out another letter, telling them to shut Oxon Hill down for a two day training session.

The letter stress HHS’s concern that just days prior to the March 7, 2012 monitor visits, that the Chief Compliance Officer – Lorri Steiner,- the Chief Dental Officer, Steven Adair or Gus Ghassen or both – the SVP of Operations, Kevin Reilly,- the Executive Director of Operations,Lisa Mullinix or Scott Nearing maybe- the Compliance Attorney, Sheila Sawyer, and the Regional Director, Dr. Marlene Navedo had been to Oxon Hill Small Smiles and couldn’t find a thing wrong. NOT ONE THING! How can that be???

Are they incompetent or criminals, it has to be one or the other. Are the same folks still running the show down there? Yes indeed…several of them are still there.

Something big happened that was quite serious, I don’t know what, by the Oral Surgeon at the Oxon Hill Small Smiles on February 20,2012. I don’t know if I want to know either.

CSHM Agreement with Office of Inspector General May 15 2012

Next Wednesday, July 11, 2012 is the dead line for CSHM to have reviewed and report past overtreatment at the Manassas clinic. As Bloomberg Businessweek reported, with 42% of all the root canals checked, (104 unnecessary root canals out of 244) deemed unnecessary I’m guessing that report will not look good for the dentists working there, or the company.

This company has been under the watchful eye of government regulators since 2007, when the investigation first began. Can you get your head around the fact they have not changed their ways in 5 years!!!! 

Arrests next week?

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS)–Raising capital for more dental center purchases?

July 3, 2012
Today OMERS is in the news because it sold a hunk of it’s private equity funds investments to AXA for $850-million.  OMERS says it likes “direct” investment much better. Citing – “direct investments give it more control over its assets than investments through third-party private equity funds, and keep investment costs lower.”

 In October 2011 Canadian OMERS purchased Great Expressions Dental Centers (GEDC) from Audax .

In March 2012, OMERS again put its money where your mouth is, with the purchase of Exceldent. Which added another 19 private equity owned dental centers to NY, CT and NJ.

Related -

About OMERS Private Equity
Operating under the OMERS Worldwide brand, OMERS Private Equity manages the private equity activities of OMERS and has over $6.3 billion of investments under management. The group’s investment strategy includes the active ownership of businesses in North America and Europe. OMERS Private Equity is headquartered in Toronto, with offices in New York and London. For further information visit: www.omerspe.com.

About OMERS
OMERS is one of Canada’s largest pension funds with over $55.1 billion in net assets. It provides first-class pension administration and innovative products and services to almost 420,000 members. Approximately one in every 20 employees working in the province of Ontario is an OMERS member. Through the OMERS Worldwide brand, our team of investment professionals uses a direct drive, active management investment strategy to invest in public and private market assets, including publicly-traded equities, fixed-income, infrastructure, private equity and real estate. For more information, please visit www.omers.com, or www.omersworldwide.com


 

21 Oct 2011

US private equity firm Audax has sold Great Expressions Dental Centers (GEDC) to OMERS Private Equity for an undisclosed sum.

Headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, GEDC is a dental practice management company that provides general and specialty dental services through 152 affiliated practices in Michigan, Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts, Ohio, Virginia and Connecticut.

The company was founded in 1982 by Dr Knysz, who served as chairman. Audax acquired a majority interest from Dr Knysz in May 2008 and, along with management, subsequently sourced and integrated ten add-on acquisitions.

Geoffrey Rehnert, co-CEO of Audax, said, “Rich Beckman and his management team did a terrific job working with us to build the company through add-on acquisitions and by establishing best practices across the company.

“We implemented financial controls and reporting systems to improve operating efficiencies, enabling affiliated dental providers to remain focused on patient care and clinical excellence. We wish Rich and his team continued success,” he added.