Dentists pay $1M-plus to resolve civil case

Two dentists and their dental practices in Connecticut have paid $1.17 million to resolve allegations that they operated a Medicaid kickback scheme, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Dr. Stanislav Gintautas and Dr. Tatiana Agababaeva and their practices Family Dentistry of Bridgeport, Family Dentistry of Hartford, and Family Dentistry of Stamford signed a civil settlement and paid $1.7 million to resolve allegations that they violated U.S. and state False Claims acts. The payment reimburses the Medicaid program for alleged conduct that occurred between February 2016 and August 2018, according to a press release dated August 28 from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut.

To generate business for their practices, Gintautas and the practices allegedly paid a third-party patient-recruiting company to attract Medicaid patients to their businesses. They reportedly paid the company a $115 fee per Medicaid patient who received dental services beyond routine care like teeth cleanings in violation of the U.S Anti-Kickback Statute and Connecticut's Dental Health Partnership Provider manual. It is illegal to pay kickbacks or bribes to induce a person to refer another for care that will be paid in full or in part by a U.S. healthcare program.

This is the second major civil settlement involving a Medicaid kickback scheme in Connecticut in 2024. In May, Drs. Bohun Choi and Michong Son and their practices C&S Family Dental in New Britain and Waterbury, CT, agreed to pay more than $498,310 to resolve allegations that they violated U.S. and state False Claims acts.