New York - State Attorney General Raids Three Dental Offices Suspected of Medicaid Fraud


These dental clinics were long overdue for a cleaning.

Investigators from the state Attorney General's Office yesterday seized computers, patient records and billing documents from three dental offices suspected of Medicaid fraud -- just weeks after an explosive exposé by The Post.

As The Post first reported last month, the Dental Plaza chain of clinics -- run by Queens businessman David Ibragimov -- used touts to illegally recruit Medicaid card-holders from homeless shelters and street corners with promises of cash.

The practice, according to veteran fraud investigators, is often a ploy to get a valid Medicaid number and grossly overbill the state.

"You guys ruined our jobs," a now out-of-work tout told a Post reporter outside the Dental Plaza branch at 165-10 Jamaica Ave. in Queens.

The touts, many of whom live in shelters themselves, received up to $7 for every Medicaid patient they brought to the clinic.

The patients then collected $10 to $15.

Jan Gilbert, a Dental Plaza dentist at the Jamaica branch, sheepishly covered his head with his jacket and then attempted to punch a Post reporter when asked for comment.

Meanwhile, investigators loaded SUVs with boxes of documents and computer disk drives from the clinic.

It was a similar scene at the branch at 2471 Morris Ave. in The Bronx.

"I studied hard to get this job," sobbed a dental assistant who identified herself as Maria. "Now we all have no jobs. I was honest. I worked hard."

Some two dozen investigators swarmed the second-floor clinic. Witnesses reported that even dental chairs were removed, along with the computers and documents.

At 575 Fulton Street in Brooklyn, where investigators were seen loading items into an 18-foot moving truck, one former patient lamented the loss of easy cash.

"Ten dollars comes in handy when you need it," said the 26-year-old woman, who claimed she was recruited outside a city welfare office. "Most of the people that do it are drug addicts."

A spokesman for Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said the raids are part of an ongoing investigation, but he declined further comment.

Reached on his cellphone, Ibragimov abruptly hung up.

Five years ago, Ibragimov was charged with Medicaid fraud but the charges were later dismissed.

But two of his dentists at the 575 Fulton St. clinic, Dolly Rosen and Alex Silman, later pleaded guilty.

Last January, they were officially terminated from the state Medicaid program, but both still have valid dental licenses.

The Fulton Street clinic remained open.

Ibragimov has expanded the practice, even allegedly purchasing a Ford Econoline van to pick up patients off the streets and transport them to his clinics.

NY Post


Comments

  1. I just wish we could try hard justice as the current system doesn't deter anyone but good people. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete

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