Grafton Man Charged in Medicaid Scheme

A North Grafton man is charged in connection with an alleged Medicaid fraud in Connecticut, the Connecticut Post reports.

Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen has brought a civil action against 28 individuals, dental practices and corporations, including Paul Anusavice of North Grafton, the paper reports.

Jepsen, in his action against Mehran Zamani of Stamford, Ct. and Pound Ridge, N.Y., alleges an illegal scheme that resulted in more than $24 million in fraudulent Medicaid clams over two years in violation of the Connecticut False Claims Act and Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act.

Also named in the state's complaint are Gary Anusavice of North Kingston, R.I.; John Gallagher of Manchester; David Wu of Cheshire, Ct. and Alphonso Mack of Bloomfield, Ct.

The complaint seeks restitution, treble damages and civil penalties, as well as a permanent injunction against the unlawful acts and practices alleged in the complaint.

Gary Anusavice and Zamani were arrested on federal criminal charges for their alleged involvement in the same billing scheme. Zamani operates Mehran Zamani DDS PC.

"This is the first case the state has initiated under the Connecticut False Claims Act," Jepsen said in prepared comments. "It gives the state the rightful ability to seek compensation for taxpayers from those who seek to abuse the system with false claims for reimbursements they are not eligible to receive."

The state complaint also names the dental practices and other corporations created or controlled by the individuals. They include E.G.A. Management Inc., Haven Consulting, Inc. and AMZ Consulting Inc., Dental Care of Connecticut Inc., and N.B. Dental Inc.; Electron Marketing, Inc. of Fall River; Dental Group of Stamford LLC and Dentists Group of Stamford PC.

Also named were: Mehran Zamani LLC and Mehran Zamani, DDS PC; Dental Group of Connecticut LLC, and Dentists Group of Connecticut PC; Dental Group of Waterbury LLC, and Dentists Group of Waterbury PC; Dental Group of Danbury PC; Dental Group of New Britain PC; Dental Group of Hartford, PC; Hartford Dental Care, LLC; Hartford Dental Incorporated, PC; Arbor Dental Association LLC; Alpha Dental Group PC; and Wintonbury Dental Associates PC.