Familia Dental has agreed to pay a substantial sum of approximately $300,000 to resolve allegations of violating the False Claims Act. The claims date back to a period spanning from June 1, 2016, through November 26, 2019. The settlement stipulates that the United States will receive around $120,000, while the State of Illinois will receive approximately $180,000.
The accusations against Familia Dental centered on the submission of Medicaid claims for dental services that were deemed medically unnecessary. This not only resulted in the misuse of taxpayer dollars but also strained the resources available to care for beneficiaries. The resolution of this case sends a clear message that those who overcharge the government will be held accountable.
U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris for the Central District of Illinois emphasized the impact of such fraudulent practices, stating, "When healthcare providers bill government programs for unnecessary services, not only are taxpayer dollars wasted, but also those programs have fewer resources to care for beneficiaries."
Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly highlighted the role of law enforcement in uncovering healthcare fraud, stating, "Healthcare professionals are in a position of trust, and when they break that trust by fraudulently obtaining thousands of taxpayer dollars, ISP will be there to investigate."
The resolution of this case was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of Illinois, the Inspector General's Office of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.