The federal government has filed a lawsuit claiming that a Maine dentist, who has faced disciplinary action by the dental board, submitted false claims for government reimbursement.
The civil lawsuit was filed against Rockport dentist Daniel P. Schecter, DDS, by the U.S. attorney's office in Bangor federal court, according to a Bangor Daily News story. No criminal charges have been filed.
An audit of 50 cases submitted between 2009 and 2011 by Dr. Schecter to the state's Medicaid agency, MaineCare, concluded that none of the procedures were medically necessary, the suit claims.
The lawsuit states that Dr. Schecter submitted false records to get reimbursed, according to the article.
The amount of money owed by the dentist is not specified in the lawsuit. However, if he is found to have committed the offenses, he would have to repay the money plus civil penalties ranging from $5,500 to $11,000 for each false claim.
Records show that Dr. Schecter has been brought before the Maine Board of Dental Examiners twice. He entered into a consent agreement in 2009 concerning a patient who died four days after being treated in January 2007, Bangor Daily News reported.
Dr. Schecter entered into a second consent agreement with the board after he was found to have been prescribing excessive pain medications. The agreement prohibited him from further prescribing narcotics for dental pain.
