Birner Dental - Perfect Teeth

If I owned stock in Birner's Perfect Teeth I'd unload it ASAP. Especially if I were an employee and has purchased stock, you might be holding a big bag of nothing!

This is an excerpt from today's report to their shareholders:

For the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, revenue was negatively impacted by a decrease in the number of patient visits in the offices relative to the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011. Additionally, for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012, patients accepted less expensive treatment relative to the prior periods. The Company believes this is due to a general weakness in the economy in its markets.

From an employee's perspective:

The offices were negatively impacted by poor dentist/management relations due to poor management decisions. This is especially true in light of their "Dental $34 Special", which has flooded the clinics with low pay patients that don't have the money for extensive treatment due to years of neglect from not seeing a dentist. The special was only to last for a few months last fall but has continued to this day as a promotional tool that only fills the schedule with low pay or non-pay patients...go figure..

Oh and their debt rose by $1 million.

Brooklyn dentist arrested for what is standard procedure in Texas–Patient Recruiting

Brooklyn dentist admits fraud in Medicaid probe

Posted: Aug 13, 2012 4:19 PM CDT Updated: Aug 13, 2012 4:19 PM CDT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York authorities say a Brooklyn dentist has pleaded guilty to fraud, admitting he paid recruiters to solicit homeless Medicaid patients with cash.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli say dentist Lawrence J. Bruckner of Plainview has also admitted failing to pay taxes on payments he received from other dentists who worked at his clinics.

They say the 62-year-old Bruckner is expected to pay nearly $700,000 in restitution and face jail time.

Sentencing is set for November in Kings County Court, where his company, Premier Dental PC, entered guilty pleas to grand larceny and violating social services law.

Investigators say Bruckner submitted hundreds of false claims to the Medicaid program.

Read more: http://www.myfoxny.com/story/19266705/brooklyn-dentist-admits-fraud-in-medicaid-probe?clienttype=printable#ixzz23ZJ0WrEH

 

All About Dentistry snatches children off the streets

New Hampshire dentist arrested for assault

This just bothers me, mainly because the real child assaults in dental offices go unpublished and unpunished!

Patch.com

Windham resident John Bassett turned himself in to police Monday after a warrant was issued for an alleged assault on a child at his Salem, N.H. office in May.

Bassett, 63, operates a dental practice at 32 Stiles Road. He was charged with one count of simple assault and released on $1,000 personal recognizance.

According to police, they received a report on May 18 at about 2:15 p.m. from a a mother that her 8-year-old son was touching some glass jars on a counter that held dentistry equipment during a follow-up appointment at Bassett's office.

Police said the boy opened the lid to one of the jars and started pulling out gauze.

According to the child's mother, Bassett yelled, "We don't do that here!" and slapped the boy on the back with an open hand.

Immediately, police said the mother grabbed her son and left the office. Outside, she found a large, red welt and the shape of a hand on his back. Police said they photographed the injury and returned home.

Salem detectives conducted a follow-up investigation and determined an assault had taken place. An arrest warrant was issued, charging Bassett with a Class A misdemeanor.

ReachOut Healthcare America–Big Smiles Mobile Dental Clinics are a danger to public health! Another example!

 

ReachOut Healthcare America under fire again. When will those who can, do something?

Though no name of the company operating the mobile dental clinic is mention, it is ReachOut Healthcare America, based in Farmington, MI.

ReachOut Healthcare America is under investigation by Senator Charles Grassley’s office. (see letters Sen. Grassley has sent to ReachOut on the right)

If you work or have worked for ReachOut Healthcare America and do nothing to protect people like Andrew in this story, or little Isaac in Arizona it’s your duty to speak out. Please do so, everyday children, the handicapped and the elderly are being abused! Do something! I beg of you!

To WOOD – TV News 8:

What was the point of this story by WOOD-TV News 8 if they wouldn’t mention the name of the company?  Why did News 8 leave the investigation of this company out of the story? It’s your duty as well to warn the public that a company owned by Morgan Stanley is doing this to the most vulnerable people in America.

If I weren’t posting the name, right here, right now, no one would have a clue what company did this to Andrew. For God’s sake people, wake the hell up, get off your butts and speak up!

Transitions Dental Company–Sham and Scam?

Transitions Dental Company (TDC) presents itself to be a company that will help dentists own their own clinics. It’s website says –

Graduate>>Employee>>Owner

However, I think it’s another whack-a-doodle” company; the new grad being the “doodle”. I can’t find where any clinic they list on their website has ever been owned by anyone other than Transitions Dental Company.  So “Graduate Beware”, you won’t make it past “employee”!

I believe it is a scam company operated by three couples - The Kruegers, The Meldrums and The Mitchells. I say this, first,  because they have recycled the following business names several times since Transition Dental registered to do business in Indiana in 2005, and not once has the ownership ever left that of Transitions Dental Company. Second, the three couple are the “owners” “the corporate operators” and the “regional managers”.

Alpine Woods Family Dental – Frankfort, IN
Crest View Family Dental – Bloomington, IN
Fair Oaks Creek Family Dental – Columbus, IN
Glenbrook Family Dentistry – Fort Wayne, IN
Highland Creek Family Dental - Lafayette, IN
Lakeland Creek Family Dental - Merrillville, IN
Maple Creek Family Dental - Kokomo, IN
Sagamore Meadows Family Dental - West Lafayette, IN
Scatterfield Meadows Family Dental – Anderson, IN
Silhavy Creek Family Dental – Valparaiso, IN
Stoney Creek Family Dental – Muncie, IN
University Meadows Family Dental, Mishawaka, IN

 

About the company:

Transitions Dental Company
200 Kingston Drive
West Lafayette, IN 47906
765-807-0580
Established 2005

 

Founders and Officers:

Daniel W. Krueger Owner – President
Karri Krueger  Owner – SVP
Brad T. Meldrum – SVP (banker)
Penny Meldrum – Corporate Secretary since 2005 according to bio ( wife of Brad)
James Pruitt – Executive Office Assistant

Team:

Lisa Mitchell – Southern Regional Manager (wife of Neal)
Neal Mitchell – Northern Regional Manager (husband of Lisa)
Natalie Odel – Regional Manager
Danielle Greives – Re-Care Trainer
Tricia French – Expanded Functions Dental Assistant Trainer
Diego Calderon – IT Manager
Abdur Razzak – IT Technician

Did Levine Leichtman unload a sinking ship in InterDent?

I can only hope so. Not that I’m all tore up and concerned about Levine Leichtman. I just find it lip smackin’ good to see another private equity firm that may well get burned over the illegal practice of “Corporate  Dentistry”. Levine Leichtman operated dental clinics under the following names:
Gentle Dental
Smile Keepers
Capital Dental
Blue Oak Dental Group
Mountain View Dental
Affordable Dental Care
Dedicated Dental Systems Incorporated
Also associated with InterDent is Northwest Management Services.
Levine Leichtman Capital Press Release:

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 8, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (LLCP) announced today the closing of the sale of InterDent, Inc. to H.I.G. Middle Market, LLC. 
InterDent, Inc. is a leading dental practice support organization ("DSO") in the United States. The Company  provides support services to over 145 affiliated dental offices in eight western states including California, Oregon, and Washington. InterDent's affiliated offices benefit from professional management, economies of scale, superior information systems, and specialization of functions. Its network delivers comprehensive dentistry to over one million patients annually, including general, orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, pedodontics, prosthodontics, and oral surgery.
"The InterDent investment has been very successful for our partners, our management team and all of the Company's stakeholders.  We are proud of the successes the company has achieved over the past years and believe the growth will continue with HIG's support," said Lauren Leichtman, CEO of LLCP.  "We are also pleased to provide a very attractive return to LLCP's investors through an exit that underscores our commitment to investing in the middle market."

Seriously?!  According to the WSJ, Levine Leichtman Capital Partners invested in 2000.  They filed for bankruptcy in 2003. Prior to the bankruptcy they owned and operated 226 dental offices in 14 states and now operate 145 dental offices in 8 states.
In 2008. InterDent entered into a 5 year Corporate Integrity Agreement with the Office of Inspector General due to fraudulent billing by at least two of it’s Dedicated Dental clinics in California.  They also agreed to pay $364,500 in restitution and pay $364,500 in damages. The 5 year Corporate Integrity Agreement expires on June 20, 2013.
John Steinbrun signed the Corporate Integrity Agreement as President and CEO of InterDent, Inc and InterDent Service Corporation and Scott Breman signed as President and CEO of Dedicated Dental Systems Incorporated.
I’m sorry, but bankruptcy, a corporate integrity agreement with the OIG, downsizing by 1/3, and numerous lawsuits is considered “very successful” for partners, management or stakeholders.

Special needs child kidnapped off the street and taken for dental treatment at All About Dental clinic in Texas. Still no handcuffs on dentists or kidnappers.

WFAA – Byron Harris

August 3, 2012

DALLAS - "Something needs to be done before one of these children dies," Brenda Flores said.

Flores is tough, smart, and protective of her grandson, Isaac. When he didn't come home until after dark one day last March, she was about to call for an Amber Alert.

It turns out, fifteen-year-old Isaac had been taken from his neighborhood to a southeast Dallas dental clinic without her permission.

Isaac, who has severe ADD and asthma, was approached on March 6 by a man in a van.

"'I can give you $10, and a $50 dollar gift card later, and a pizza to take home,'" Isaac quoted the man as saying.

All Isaac had to do was go to the dentist. The man drove him to All About Dentistry on Scyene Road in Dallas. Billing records show All About Dentistry billed Medicaid for 25 procedures on Isaac Flores, totaling $2,041.
Medicaid rules do not allow treatment of a minor without the parent or guardian's permission.

"I'm angry," Mrs. Flores said. "I'm very angry, because I'm here to protect my grandson. And he was taken off the streets without my permission. He was sedated. And he has a medical condition."

Devon Allen has a medical condition, too.

He was taken by a recruiter to All About Dentistry last month, without his mother's knowledge. Gale Allen, his mother, has now hired an attorney, Ajay Shah.
"It truly shocks the conscience," Shah said. "These children have been truly impacted by this individual's actions."
He now represents two parents and four children in the case, but the number may be growing.

Isaac Flores said there were other children in the van with him when he was taken to All About Dentistry last March.

Blanca Flores said she filed a police report the day of the incident, and complained to the Attorney General as well. She hasn't heard back.
State Senator Royce West, (D-Dallas), urges victims to contact his office.
"I won't get stonewalled by an agency, because we will make certain that those claims get investigated by the proper authorities," West said.

Dr. Hamid Farahani, who owns the clinic on Scyene Road and two other All About Dentistry clinics, denies he has done anything wrong. He said he has been audited by Medicaid five times and never found guilty of anything. He admits he owns a van and that he employs a patient recruiter.

So far, he has refused to give any of the parents involved any paperwork on their sons' treatment.
E-mail bharris@wfaa.com

Care Credit comes under fire again after Hartford Dental Care closes.

 

View more videos at: http://nbcconnecticut.com.

 

 

Painful Dentist Bill Questioned
By Troubleshooter Chris Coffey

Tuesday, Aug 7, 2012

A dental patient from East Hartford said she was billed thousands of dollars for a procedure that was not completed.  Investigators said the dental clinic in question is connected to a man charged with bilking millions of Medicaid dollars out of the government.

Maria Ruiz and her husband received a flyer for Hartford Dental Care in May.  It was good timing, since Ruiz was experiencing mouth pain.

Ruiz visited the dental facility and said she was urged to sign up for a third party financing plan called Care Credit.  She said the clinic prescribed her medicine and told her she needed a root canal.  Ruiz said she had some work done on her mouth, but she never received the full root canal after three visits to Hartford Dental Care.

"I also asked them why they didn't fix my teeth and they told me they will call me in two weeks," Ruiz said through an interpreter.

By then it was too late.  Hartford Dental Care appeared to have permanently shut its doors.

A Connecticut Attorney General investigation resulted in federal agents arresting the owner, Gary Anusavice.  Anusavice was charged with running a $20 million Medicaid fraud scheme at his clinics in West Haven, Trumbull and Stamford, which also appear to have closed.

"It's not clear that everybody who worked for these clinics were consciously aware that Anusavice was behind it all," said Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen.

However, Ruiz got stuck with a near $3,800 bill from Care Credit.  The Connecticut State Dental Association said a root canal would not cost that much by itself.

Through an emailed statement, Anusavice's lawyer said Ruiz's treatment was probably discontinued not because of fraud, but because the clinic was shut down after the government terminated its Medicaid practicing rights.

But Ruiz and her husband told the Troubleshooters she was not on Medicaid.

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley obtained a judgment against Anusavaice in 2010, claiming Anusavice and others lured patients in with deceptive marketing, pressured patients to agree to costly dental treatments, then failed to complete the procedures or provided shoddy treatment.

Sound familiar?

"If they will ever do the treatment on me, if they get the work done on my teeth, then, yes, I will pay them, but how am I going to pay something that they never did," Ruiz said.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts required Anusavice to pay $237,500 for victim restitution and penalties as a result of the judgment. 

Years earlier, Anusavice sustained a felony conviction in 1997 in Massachusetts for submitting false health care claims.  In 1998, the federal government also banned him from participating in Medicare and Medicaid.  According to the feds, the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Dentistry permanently revoked Anusavice's license to practice dentistry in Massachusetts in 2006.

Investigators said Anusavice opened his clinics in Connecticut and used a licensed dentist to act as the nominal head.  According to the indictment, Anusavice, who is not licensed to practice dentistry in Connecticut, even reviewed patient charts and suggested dental procedures.

"They were fraudulently, in effect, billing the federal government for services," Jepsen said.

It's a big concern to the Connecticut State Dental Association.

"Anytime even one or two of these providers is alleged to have committed fraud, it reflects poorly on our profession as a whole," said CSDA president Dr. Carolyn Malon.

Jury selection for Anusavice's trial starts next January.  He faces up to twenty years in federal prison if convicted.

The Troubleshooters contacted Care Credit, which then got in touch with Ruiz.  Care Credit told the Troubleshooters it had tried to reach Ruiz, but apparently did not have her correct phone number.  Ruiz said she is no longer on the hook for the $3800 bill.  Instead, she only owes $71 in dispute fees.

Care Credit said it is no longer working with Hartford Dental Care due to a pending investigation.

The Connecticut State Dental Association urges patients who are in need of a new dentist to ask friends and family members for referrals.

"They can tell you who their dentist is, whether this is somebody who they've been going to for a long time, how well they're cared for there," Malon said.

The CSDA also recommends would-be patients contact the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership here.

Sinister Dallas dentist, Dr. Hamid Farahani, pays kidnappers for children to treat.

Parents and law enforcement go on high alert when reports come in about a “suspicious looking” van near schools, playgrounds or other venues where children hang out.

Who knew stranger danger for children would be kidnapping children for dental treatment. I can’t make this crap up.

Ya know how we teach children not to take candy from strangers. We can now add “free dental treatment” to that list.

WFAA

 

Posted on August 2, 2012 at 10:22 PM
Updated yesterday at 12:10 AM

DALLAS - To treat a child under Medicaid, a dentist must have a parent's permission. But competition for Medicaid income is so fierce, some dental clinics are literally picking kids up off the street and taking them straight to the dentist's office without letting parents know.

Here's a sequence of events that transpired three weeks ago in southeast Dallas: Four boys, ages 13 through 17, were walking along a sidewalk in their neighborhood. A man, they say, drove up and asked them if they were on Medicaid. They all said yes.

The man replied, "How'd you like to make $10?"Okay, they said.
"Just go to the dentists office and have your teeth cleaned," the man said.
All the boys already have dentists, but the man did not ask.

They were taken by van, they say, to All About Dentistry on Scyene Road, one of three clinics owned by Dr. Hamid Farahani. The boys say they were asked to sign their mothers' names on some papers, and ultimately treated by a man they assumed was a dentist.

Once in the chair, the dentist proceeded to numb their mouths with shots, drill their teeth, and put fillings in.

"They gave me four shots," said 15-year-old Devon Allen.

Devon's mother, Gale Allen, said her son suffers from chronic asthma and has some drug allergies. Not knowing this and not asking, the dentist filled several of Devon's teeth. That night his mouth swelled up, pictures show.

Jonathan Henderson, 13, and his brothers, Reginald, 17, and Roderick, 16, also got shots and fillings that day. Roderick got four shots and eight fillings, he said. Reginald got four.

None of the boys even knew they needed fillings.
"They're the dentist," Roderick said. "I thought that was right. I let 'em give me four cavities [fillings.]"

Both Reginald and Roderick already have braces on their teeth, installed by another Medicaid dentist. Reginald said his braces were broken by the dentist at All About Dentistry.

None of the boys were given any forms outlining what had been done to them.

Gale Allen, who contacted News 8, is infuriated. She's been unable to talk to the dentist, or to obtain any paperwork.

"They had no reason to approach Devon, first of all," she said. "Second of all, I'm his parent and for you to just pick up kids on the corner, that's wrong."

Regina Robertson, mother of Johnathan, Reginald and Roderick, is amazed it could happen. She said the boys are not old enough to sign any consent forms, because they're all still minors.

Mrs. Allen accompanied News 8 to the All About Dentistry clinic on Scyene.

At first, the receptionist said there was no dentist there that day, even though the clinic was clearly open. The dental licenses of two dentists were on the wall of the new facility. Finally, a Dr. Massood Shariati cracked open the door to the waiting room.

News 8 asked how his office could treat children without parental permission.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Shariati said. "I treat all patients correctly, I was on the Dean's list at Baylor Dental School."

Then he ducked back behind the door. A photocopied "Baylor's Dean's List" was framed, on the waiting room wall.

The receptionist got the clinic's owner, Dr. Hamid Farahani, on the phone. He also denied the boys had been mistreated. After a heated conversation with News 8, he hung up.

In later phone conversations, he promised to produce parental permission forms, but he never did. Farahani admits he employs a "marketer" to bring in patients, but would not reveal how much the marketer is paid.

News 8 asked the mother of three toddlers at the clinic if she was being paid to bring her children to the dentist. She said yes. How much? "I don't know yet," she replied.

It is illegal to pay parents on Medicaid to bring the children. But in the murky world of Medicaid dental, it regularly happens. Parents are typically not paid by a clinic until after their children are treated.

Out in the parking lot, an unmarked van registered to Hamid Farahani matched the one the boys said picked them up.  Farahani admitted to News 8 it's his. He said it's legal for a clinic to provide transportation.

Gale Allen is seething.
"These people are driving around and soliciting them, and asking them do they want to make ten dollars," she said. "That's wrong."

Neither mother has been able to determine exactly what was done to their boys by All About Dentistry.

Related:

• Texas AG lawsuits spurred by WFAA dental investigation
• Medicaid dentistry tackles patient abandonment after investigation
• Back-to-school event includes clinic involved in News 8 investigations
• Dentist in Medicaid suit adding a water park to his mansion
• Texas Medicaid dental program pays millions for crowns, fillings
• More stories about WFAA's Texas Medicaid orthodontics investigation

 

Why is this kidnapper dentist, Dr. Hamid Farahani not in jail this morning?

What about the kidnapper (recruiters)he hired. I don’t care how you cut it, Dr. Hamid hired people to kidnap children off the street and bring them to his office for “dental treatment”!

The one kid’s mom is right, they had no business approaching children at all. It’s illegal to patient shop or pay for patients in any way. Just last week at the Texas Stakeholders Quarterly Meeting, this very question was raised. The answer given was:

TAC 353.795 (d) MCO’s and providers - that would be Dr. Hamid Farahani– shall not conduct any direct contact marketing except through enrollment events. The Office of Inspector General says it’s a $10K fine per instance. (slide 78 of meeting presentation)

At that same meeting (slide 79 of the meeting presentation) it’s stated the Texas Health and Human Services Commission - Office of Inspector General is aware of this patient soliciting and is aware of the people hired to “recruit” patients. They even offer a hotline number to call to report such incidences – 1-800-436-6184.

Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, acting attorney, Sarah Carnes-Lemp talked about this as did another attorney with the board. They went into great detail about soliciting patients, gifts and such and stated clearly is was a “criminal offense”. Further “recruiters” were mentioned with a big fat “NO to recruiters”.(slide 83 of the presentation) 

On slide 84, it was pointed out that the Dental Practice Act 295.005 said “Unprofessional to intimidate or exert undue pressure or undue influence over a prospective patient.” Though not specifically mentioned,but I’m thinking kidnapping would fall somewhere between NO and HELL NO. In addition, kidnapping minor children would be a “go to jail, go directly to jail” event!

HOWEVER, and this is a big however, the powers that be mentioned NOTHING, not one thing about doing anything about these “recruiters” .

Why are “recruiter” companies, such as Dental Professional of Texas’ very own Texas Community Outreach-aka KHB Community Outreach Associates- allowed to operate? What they do is illegal! Plain and simple!

Now, what was it that Bernie Sanders and other were talking about…  Oh, yeah…  children don’t have access to dental care?  Bull!

 

I also noticed the kids have their own Texas orthodontist! Must be a good one too as their teeth appear to be perfect!

Related:

Medicaid recruiters scramble for Texas dental patients

Texas Health and Human Services Commission Archived Web Presentations

Texas Health and Human Services Commission Webinar

Texas Law and Dental Board Rules on patient solicitation:

Dental Board Rules

• •Business Promotion: Rules 108.50 to 108.69
• •Fee-splitting: Rule 108.1(6)
• •Referral Schemes: Rule 108.60

Texas Law

• •Patient Referral and Solicitation: TOC 102.001
• •Oral Solicitation: DPA 259.008(2)
• •Advertising Rules: DPA 259.005

Thousands of Medicaid providers still paid even though they owe thousand in back taxes. Surprised? Me either.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Congressional investigators say thousands of Medicaid health care service providers still got paid by the government even though they owed hundreds of millions of dollars in federal taxes.

A legal technicality is making it harder for the IRS to collect.

In a report out today, the Government Accountability Office says one dentist who received more than $100,000 from Medicaid while owing back income taxes was spending lavishly on fine dining, trips, spas, shopping and wine.

Medicaid payments to doctors, hospitals and other providers aren't technically considered federal funds, since they're funneled through state health care programs.

Because of that loophole, the IRS can't just shut off the payment spigot to collect tax debts. Investigators only looked at three states, so the true extent of the losses is greater.