Jury finds Missouri dental owners guilty in $800K fraud scheme

A Missouri jury found dental owners Pamela Van Drie and her husband Lorin Van Drie guilty of submitting nearly $1 million in fraudulent Medicaid claims, according to KY3.

The two owned Springfield, Mo.-based All About Smiles, which also had locations in Mountain Grove, Mo., and Bolivar, Mo. All the clinics are now closed. The husband and wife duo also operated PL Family Management Co., which served as a dental service organization for the dental clinics.

Between Oct. 6, 2010, and Aug. 19, 2015, Ms. Van Drie participated in a conspiracy to commit fraud. She submitted false claims for various dental services and orthodontic appliances. James Dye, DDS, a dentist at the clinic, arranged for patients who were not qualified for Medicaid reimbursement to undergo the dental procedures.

Through All About Smiles, Dr. Dye and Ms. Van Drie submitted and received $720,048 in reimbursements. Dr. Dye and Ms. Van Drie purchased Ortho-Tain appliances, which sell for $50, and billed Medicaid nearly $695 as an aid prosthesis. For the orthopedic appliances, they submitted around $167,700 in false claims.

Dr. Dye pleaded guilty Feb. 11, 2016, to healthcare fraud in a separate case.

To read the full report, click here.

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