CT Dentists, Including Stamford Practice, Pay $714K To Settle False Claims Allegations: Officials

STAMFORD, CT — Two Connecticut dental providers have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments to resolve allegations of violations of the federal and state False Claims Acts, according to an announcement from the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

The settlements stem from a larger investigation into fraudulent activity by health care providers who submit kickback-tainted claims to the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (CTMAP) for services rendered to Connecticut Medicaid patients referred by third-party ‘patient recruiting’ companies, officials said.

State officials say two now-dissolved dental practices in Stamford and New Haven, and their owners, submitted claims to CTMAP, which includes the state’s Medicaid program, for services provided to Medicaid patients who were referred by a third-party patient recruiting company.

According to officials, Dent Plus Family Dentistry, PLLC of Stamford, L&M Family Dentistry, LLC of New Haven, and their owners, Ivan Makar, DDS, and Oleg Losin, DDS, paid a recruiter for each Medicaid patient referred to the practices.

With each submitted claim, officials said the practices and their owners “impliedly certified” that they met all conditions for payment, including that they did not pay kickbacks or violate provisions of the Connecticut Dental Health Partnership provider manual related to the claim.

The CTDHP provider manual, which is an addendum to both the CTMAP provider agreement and the CTMAP provider manual, expressly prohibits per-patient compensation for individuals referred to CMAP providers, officials said.

To resolve the allegations under the federal and state False Claims Acts, Makar and Losin paid $714,446.27 to reimburse the Medicaid program for conduct occurring from Jan. 1, 2019, through Sept. 6, 2020, officials said.

In entering into the civil settlement agreement, the providers and their practices did not admit liability.

People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.