A Massachusetts practice manager accused of committing $245,000 in Medicaid fraud, pulling a patient's tooth without having a dental license, and more was found guilty following an eight-day jury trial, according to the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General.
Fritz Gabriel, 71, who worked as a manager at Forest Hills Dental in Dorchester, MA, was found guilty of one count of Medicaid false claims, one count of larceny over $1,200, one count of unlicensed practice of dentistry, and one count of illegally prescribing controlled substances, according to a press release dated February 17 from the state attorney general’s office.
Gabriel is scheduled to be sentenced later this month, according to the press release.
In May, Gabriel and the practice were indicted for reportedly billing MassHealth for numerous dental services, including extractions, root canals, and fillings, that patients never received. Subsequent dental exams and x-rays proved the services were not performed.
Additionally, the dental practice reportedly billed MassHealth for dental services provided by Gabriel, who is not a licensed dentist, that must be performed by a licensed dentist. In one of these instances, Gabriel is accused of performing an extraction on a MassHealth patient, leaving an exposed root in her mouth. Ultimately, the woman required considerable follow-up treatment.
In total, about $245,000 in reimbursements were fraudulently obtained from MassHealth.
Additionally, Gabriel purportedly issued prescriptions, including ones for controlled substances like hydrocodone, using the registration number and credentials of a dentist without that clinician’s knowledge or authorization. It is illegal for any dental professionals other than dentists to prescribe medication, according to the press release.
