PIO doctor Reddy fined in fraud case

New York, Jan. 10: An Indian-origin dentist in the US is among five other physicians who have agreed to pay $2,50,000 for not rendering paedriatic dental services and making false claims in a government funded programme to help poor children.

As part of the settlement agreement Akhil Reddy, Christopher Steven Villanueva, Trung Minh Tang, Mauricio Dardano, Gabriel Shahwan agreed to pay $2,50,000 each to resolve the governments’ claims against them individually.

They are owners or part owners of MB2 and the dental practices included in this settlement, and practice dentistry in Texas. Frank Villanueva, MB2’s head of marketing, also will pay $1,00,000 to resolve his alleged personal liability, the US Justice Department has said.

“The settlement demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protect the Medicaid programme and the patients it serves from unscrupulous providers,” said US Attorney Parker.

“Providers who waste taxpayer dollars by billing for services that were not provided, or were otherwise improper, will be held accountable,” Parker said.

As part of this settlement, MB2 have entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).

This settlement resolves allegations that between January 2009, and December 2014, MB2 and affiliated dental practices submitted claims to the Texas Medicaid Fee for Service Program for single-surface fillings in children that were not provided. — PTI

SINCE January 2009, US Justice Department has recovered more than $19.3 billion in cases involving fraud against federal health care programmes