An Albuquerque, N.M., dentist is facing nine felony charges for allegedly submitting fraudulent claims to insurance companies while his dental license was suspended, according to the Albuquerque Journal.
In July 2018, the state Board of Dental Health followed up on a complaint that William Gardner, DDS, was practicing without a license, finding that he had treated about 82 patients. Dr. Gardner allegedly had a suspended license for a few months but continued to perform dental work and bill the insurance provider, Mark Torres, special agent for the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, told the Albuquerque Journal.
"I think most of his patients [during] this time were pretty satisfied with his work, it's just [that] he's not entitled to do it," Mr. Torres said to the Albuquerque Journal.
Dr. Gardner is facing up to nearly 17 years in prison, with an arraignment scheduled for Sept. 23.
He denied ever having his license suspended and alleges that the attorney of Delta Dental of New Mexico — insurance provider he billed — filed the "bogus" charges.
"All of these allegations are untrue and are part of the corruption in the NM Dental Board as well as Delta Dental of NM," Dr. Gardner said in a statement to local news outlet KRQE.
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In July 2018, the state Board of Dental Health followed up on a complaint that William Gardner, DDS, was practicing without a license, finding that he had treated about 82 patients. Dr. Gardner allegedly had a suspended license for a few months but continued to perform dental work and bill the insurance provider, Mark Torres, special agent for the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, told the Albuquerque Journal.
"I think most of his patients [during] this time were pretty satisfied with his work, it's just [that] he's not entitled to do it," Mr. Torres said to the Albuquerque Journal.
Dr. Gardner is facing up to nearly 17 years in prison, with an arraignment scheduled for Sept. 23.
He denied ever having his license suspended and alleges that the attorney of Delta Dental of New Mexico — insurance provider he billed — filed the "bogus" charges.
"All of these allegations are untrue and are part of the corruption in the NM Dental Board as well as Delta Dental of NM," Dr. Gardner said in a statement to local news outlet KRQE.
More articles on dental:
3 things to know about the dental imaging market
Oral health nonprofits team up to educate dentists on cleft patients
Massachusetts DSO makes 3 new affiliations