Feds, Conn. arrest dentists in alleged $20M Medicaid fraud

Federal and Connecticut state officials have arrested Gary Anusavice of North Kingstown, RI, and Mehran Zamani, DDS, of Pound Ridge, NY, on federal charges related to their alleged involvement in a $20 million Medicaid fraud scheme.

The two, who operated dental practices throughout Connecticut, are alleged to have defrauded the Medicaid program of more than $20 million over a two-year period.

Anusavice was barred from Medicare, Medicaid, and other government health programs in 1998 but continued to defraud taxpayers by using an elaborate shield of companies and individuals, such as Dr. Zamani, to hide his involvement, explained Susan Waddell, special agent in charge of U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General for New England.

Anusavice hired Zamani in October 2008. Dr. Zamani successfully received a Medicaid provider number for three separate businesses while failing to disclose Anusavice's role in them. By March 22, 2011, it is alleged that the Anusavice-Zamani entities had collectively received nearly $21 million in Medicaid reimbursement funds.

In addition, according to Zamani's accountant's records, between February 2009 and March 2011, Anusavice-controlled entities received more than $3 million in payments from Zamani-related entities.

Anusavice was previously a registered dentist in several states until July 1997, when he sustained a felony conviction in Massachusetts for submitting false healthcare claims. HHS notified Anusavice in April 1998 that he was being excluded from participation in Medicare and state healthcare programs, including Medicaid.

In November 2005, Anusavice surrendered his right to practice dentistry in Rhode Island, and the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry permanently revoked Anusavice's license to practice dentistry in Massachusetts in 2006.

The criminal complaint alleges that Anusavice established several dental practices in Connecticut, which were operated by other dentists, including Zamani. These dental practices received millions of dollars in Medicaid reimbursements from the Connecticut Medicaid program.

They included Landmark Dental in West Haven, Dental Group of Connecticut in Trumbull, and Dental Group of Stamford. Anusavice was involved in reviewing patient charts, suggesting dental procedures to be performed, reviewing billing records, reviewing income reports, interviewing and hiring dentists, and providing overall management direction to the offices. Those offices are being searched by federal authorities.

Anusavice and another dentist are also alleged to be currently operating a new set of dental clinics, doing business as Alpha Dental Group in Cromwell, Dental Group of New Britain, and Hartford Dental Care.