Mo. AG sues dentist, wife for $600K Medicaid fraud

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster has filed a civil lawsuit against a Mt. Vernon dentist and his wife, alleging they made false and fraudulent claims to Missouri's Medicaid program.

For nearly five years, Thomas Alms Jr., DDS, and his wife Laura Alms filed claims and billed Missouri Medicaid for dental procedures that Dr. Alms was not authorized by the Missouri Dental Board to perform, according to the lawsuit. They also billed Medicaid for services that were not provided.

Medicaid has reimbursed Dr. Alms for services totaling more than $600,000, the complaint alleges.

The lawsuit, filed August 2 in Cole County Circuit Court, asks the court to order Dr. Alms and his wife to pay restitution, as well as civil penalties and punitive damages.