Wichita Falls dental practice Spearmint Dental is part of a multi-million dollar fraud settlement on filing false claims to Medicaid.

21 affiliates of MB2 Dental Solutions in Carrollton, including Spearmint Dental on Lawrence Rd., will be paying the United States and the State of Texas Medicaid program $8.45 million for knowingly and willfully filing false claims against the state Medicaid program. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, this includes "claims for pediatric dental services that were not rendered, were tainted by kickbacks, or falsely identified the person who performed the service." U.S. Attorney John Parker stated,

Today’s settlement demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protect the Medicaid program and the patients it serves from unscrupulous providers. Providers who waste taxpayer dollars by billing for services that were not provided, or were otherwise improper, will be held accountable.

Times Record News reports that the accusations of fraud were brought on by Veronica Garcia, a former MB2 employee who will be receiving just over $1.5 million from the state. According to the settlement, M2 filed false claims between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2014 for single-surface fillings that were not provided, gave kickbacks to Medicaid beneficiaries and their families, marketers, and marketing entities, and falsified records of which dentists performed which procedures.

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