Southington Dentist Settles Health Care Fraud Allegations

A Southington dentist will pay $55,000 to settle civil healthcare fraud allegations involving the filing of false and fraudulent claims for payments from Connecticut’s Medicaid program, Attorney General George Jepsen announced Monday.

The Attorney General alleged that, while enrolled as a dental provider in the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (CMAP), Dr. Thomas DeRienzo, a licensed dentist practicing in the Plantsville section of Southington, engaged in a long-term scheme to submit claims to the state Department of Social Services (DSS) for dental services that were not provided to his CMAP patients. DeRienzo is alleged to have falsely charged DSS for resin-based composite fillings that, in fact, patients did not receive.

DeRienzo has agreed to pay $55,000 to resolve the False Claims Act allegations. In addition, he has agreed to enter into a separate agreement with the DSS to be permanently barred from participation as a dentist in the CMAP.

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“My office is committed to protecting CMAP and other state healthcare programs – as well as the taxpayers who fund them – from fraud,” Jepsen said in a statement. “By bringing state False Claims Act cases such as this, we recover funds obtained through fraud and deter others from attempting similar schemes. I appreciate the continued coordination and partnership with our client agencies and our law enforcement partners to ensure that our most vulnerable citizens as well as our taxpayer interests are protected.”

DSS Commissioner Roderick L. Bremby said in the statement, “While this dentist does not represent Medicaid providers as a whole, the unfortunate case demonstrates the continuing need for strong anti-fraud oversight. This individual is permanently terminated from enrollment in Connecticut’s public health coverage programs, including Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. We are proud of our DSS investigative staff and greatly appreciate the work of our partners in the Attorney General’s Office, Chief State’s Attorney’s Office and federal Department of Health and Human Services.”