Management company will pay $24M to settle whistleblower allegations

A dental management company agreed this week to pay $24 million to resolve false claims allegations involving dental work performed on children. 

The company, FORBA Holdings LLC, provides business management and admin services to Small Smiles Centers, a nationwide chain of dental clinics. Dentists at the centers allegedly performed unnecessary procedures, from extractions and crowns to "baby root canals," on low-income children, then tried to receive Medicaid reimbursement for the procedures. Three whistleblower lawsuits in Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina prompted the federal investigation. 

"We will not tolerate Medicaid providers who prey on vulnerable children and seek unjust enrichment at taxpayers' expense," said Daniel Levinson, Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "This settlement reaffirms our commitment to protect the health and well-being of Medicaid beneficiaries and to ensure the integrity of this essential healthcare program." 

FORBA also is entering into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement with HHS' Office of the Inspector General for HHS. Under the agreement, FORBA will help outside reviewers monitor its quality of care and reimbursement processes, and will cooperate with the government as it continues to investigate individual dentists named in the case. 

To learn more:
- read this press release

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