'Stealth' Owner of Trumbull Dentist Office Pleads Guilty to Medicaid Fraud

A Rhode Island dentist with a revoked license has admitted to operating several dentist offices in Connecticut, including in Trumbull, and illegally collecting more than $24 million in fraudulent Medicaid claims over two years.

The dentist, Gary Anusavice, used the money to buy a house, a 33-foot yacht and a Mercedes Benz, prosecutors said.

Anusavice pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and one count of tax evasion, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, prosecutors said.  He is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford on Aug. 23, 2013.

Anusavice and his companies have also agreed to a $9.9 million settlement with the state, prosecutors said.

The Trumbull office was called Dental Care of Connecticut Inc., one of six companies Anusavice created using licensed dentists. The other companies are E.G.A. Management, Inc.; Haven Consulting, Inc.; AMZ Consulting, Inc.; Electron Marketing, Inc.; Dental Care of Connecticut, Inc.; and N.B. Dental, Inc.

The companies were staffed by licensed dentists.

Anusavice and his companies will pay the state $9.9 million, which represents treble damages under the Connecticut False Claims Act and restitution under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, prosecutors said.

"The agreement also bars Anusavice and the companies from participating in any health care-related business in Connecticut, or engaging in any other business with state agencies for at least 10 years after Anusavice completes his incarceration under the federal plea agreement," according to prosecutors.

Massachusetts banned Anusavice from accepting Medicaid funds in 1997 after he submitted false claims. But he later set up and managed offices in violation of his ban.

"By concealing his role, the state alleges that Anusavice was able to implement a billing system that resulted in the state Medicaid program being double-billed for certain dental services, or billed for services that were not rendered," prosecutors said.

Acting U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly encouraged individuals who suspect health care fraud to report it by calling the Health Care Fraud Task Force at 203-777-6311 or 1-800-HHS-TIPS.