Late January, 2018, the Department of Justice announced a $23.9 million False Claims Act settlement against dental entities, Benevis, LLC and Kool Smiles. Three of the whistleblowers will collect more than $2.4 million from the federal share.
Defendants were accused of exploiting under-privileged child patients, and billing Medicaid for same. Disturbingly, a child of five endured 12 “baby root canals” and 20 crowns over a two-day period. Defendants performed unnecessary dental procedures on young children all for financial gain.
Defendants mandated dental procedure quotas, which pressured dental professionals into corrupt practices. Unprofitable medical practitioners were disciplined and those inflating surgeries and Medicaid claims were awarded cash bonuses. Read the press release here: www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/berger–montague-pc-whistleblower-team-leads-second-largest-ever-false-claims-act-dental-case-recovering-more-than-239-million-300581018.html