A San Diego dentist and five of his employees are facing serious charges for allegedly scamming the Medi-Cal program out of a whopping $900,000. This shocking news was announced by California Attorney General Rob Bonta in a press release on Thursday.
The individuals involved in this fraud scheme are Husam Aldairi, Rawaa Attar, Lilyan Krikorian, Inci Narin, Laith Alani, and Fadi Shammas. They have been hit with felony charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and Medi-Cal fraud, according to the official statement.
Aldairi’s dental clinics had a contract with the Borrego Community Health Foundation, which is a federally qualified health center catering to Medi-Cal patients in underserved communities. The agreement allowed Aldairi to receive reimbursement for each patient visit, rather than for specific services provided. However, it is alleged that Aldairi and his team abused this system by billing for services that were never actually performed, or for services that were stretched out over multiple days.
The fraudulent activities reportedly took place between August 29, 2016, and October 20, 2020. During this period, Aldairi and his employees managed to fraudulently bill over $847,000 from unsuspecting patients, as per the attorney general’s office.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of proper oversight and regulation in healthcare billing practices. It is crucial to hold accountable those who seek to take advantage of government programs meant to provide essential services to vulnerable populations.
Incidences of fraud not only harm the integrity of the healthcare system but also undermine the trust between patients and providers. The consequences of such actions can be far-reaching, impacting the quality of care received by those in need.
Moving forward, efforts must be made to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and implement stricter penalties for those found guilty of healthcare fraud. By doing so, we can help ensure that resources are allocated appropriately, and that those who rely on programs like Medi-Cal receive the care they deserve.
