TDMR recently reported about an open record request filed with the Office of the Attorney General to find out how many dentists were indicted for Medicaid fraud by the OAG’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), the section of the OAG that investigates criminal fraud, between 2011 and 2016. These were the years encompassing the great Xerox/Conduent orthodontic debacle.
We felt sure that with all the mudslinging that the state had done against the Medicaid dental profession through those years, the number would be fantastic.
Of course, they weren’t.
Qui tam cases but no criminal cases
The low numbers intrigued us so we asked for a second open record request to be done to find out how many Medicaid dentists had been indicted for Medicaid fraud since 2016 by MFCU. Surely with qui tam relators like Joshua Lafountain and high-powered lawyers forcing large financial settlements based on such allegations, there must be real crimes being committed with serious convictions.
The answer is a resounding no.
Only one dentist charged but not fraud
Per the OAG Public Information office response, the only charge against a dentist was in 2016 for Injury to a Child, Elderly, or Disabled Individual. It was handled through the TSBDE and led to the dentist’s license being revoked.
There was nothing else.
TMFPA needs reform
There is definitely something wrong when the State of Texas can rake in millions in settlements yet there is no evidence of criminal activity.
The Texas Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act which leads to ridiculous financial settlements from needed and valuable healthcare professionals needs reform this legislative session.