Federal and State Authorities Reach Settlement with Familia Dental Over Healthcare Fraud Claims

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Familia Dental in Springfield, Illinois, today agreed to pay approximately $300,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicaid for dental services that were not medically necessary during the period from June 1, 2016, through November 26, 2019.  From the total settlement, the United States will receive approximately $120,000, and the State of Illinois will receive about $180,000. 

“When healthcare providers bill government programs for unnecessary services, not only are taxpayer dollars wasted, but also those programs have fewer resources to care for beneficiaries,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris for the Central District of Illinois.  “This settlement sends a clear message to those who overcharge the government that you will be found and held accountable.” 

“The submission of false claims to Medicaid by providers undermines the trust we place in those individuals to perform only services which are medically necessary,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Chicago Region.  “HHS-OIG will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who violate the False Claims Act are held accountable.”

“Healthcare professionals are in a position of trust and when they break that trust by fraudulently obtaining thousands of taxpayer dollars, ISP will be there to investigate,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. 

The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois, the Inspector General’s Office of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Hoelzer represented the government during the settlement process. To learn more about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdil.