She was charged with insurance fraud after an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Unit at Washington Office of the Commissioners of Insurance.
Investigators found the former manager filed 55 claims with MetLife insurance from 2008 and 2015 that totaled $17,908 on behalf of her husband. Of the claims, 38 were for treatments which never occurred, and the remainder were treatments the dentist offered to employees for free.
The Oak Harbor dentist became aware of the suspicious claims and contacted MetLife, which reported them to the CIU. The dentist terminated the office manager’s employment in January 2016.
The former office manager pled guilty and will serve three months of electronic home monitoring and 240 hours of community service. Additionally, she is responsible for paying $817 in court fees. The restitution amount will be determined at a later date.
More articles on dentists:
Drs. Andrew Heinsich, Kimberly Turnbow & more: 5 dentists making headlines
Heartland Dental, Aspen Dental & more: 5 dental companies making headlines
Kentucky reinstates dental benefits to 400K Medicaid beneficiaries: 5 takeaways
At the Becker's 5th Annual Future of Dentistry Roundtable, taking place November 12–14 in Chicago, dental leaders and executives will gain insights into emerging technologies, practice growth strategies and the evolving landscape of dental care delivery, with a focus on innovation, patient experience and operational excellence. Apply for complimentary registration now.
