HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - Attorney General William Tong and United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut today announced a $495,721 false claims settlement with Norwalk-based Advanced Dental Center.
The settlement involving the practice, and its owners, Tal Yossefi and Elad Yossefi, resolves allegations that they violated state and federal False Claims Act statutes through prohibited fees paid to a “patient recruiting” company.
Advanced Dental is enrolled in the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (“CMAP”), which includes the Connecticut Medicaid program.
From July 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018, Advance Dental is alleged to have paid a third-party patient recruiting company $120 for each Connecticut Medicaid patient the company referred to them, whenever a patient received dental services over and above routine preventative care (such as dental cleanings and exams).
The State of Connecticut and the United States contend that the alleged conduct was prohibited by the federal anti-kickback statute, as well as the CMAP provider agreement and the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership (“CTDHP”) provider manual.
Anyone with knowledge of suspected fraud or abuse in the public healthcare system is asked to contact the Attorney General’s Government Fraud Section at (860) 808-5040 or by email at ag.fraud@ct.gov.