|
TRENTON
- Attorney General Stuart Rabner and Division
of Criminal Justice Director Gregory A.
Paw announced that a Middlesex County dentist
was indicted today on charges that he falsely
billed the Medicaid program for services
never rendered.
According
to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden
Brown, Gerald J. Whiteman, 67, of Monmouth
Beach, was indicted by a state grand jury
on charges of second-degree health care
claims fraud and third-degree Medicaid fraud.
The indictment alleges that between Jan.
1, 2003 and April 25, 2005, Whiteman, a
licensed dentist with an office in Old Bridge,
fraudulently billed the Medicaid program
on at least 60 occasions for administering
general anesthesia in connection with dental
treatments when, in fact, he had administered
only local anesthesia to the patients. A
local anesthetic is considered part of a
procedure and is not billed separately.
By falsely claiming he used general anesthesia,
Whiteman was allegedly able to obtain $125
for each claim he misrepresented.
State Investigator Michael Rasar and Deputy
Attorney General David B. Noble are handling
the case. It will also be referred to the
Board of Dentistry for any action deemed
appropriate.
The
indictment is merely an accusation and the
defendant is presumed innocent until proven
guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a maximum
punishment of 10 years in state prison and
a criminal fine of $150,000, while the crime
of third-degree Medicaid fraud carries a
maximum punishment of three years in prison
and a criminal fine of $10,000.
The Medicaid program, which is funded by
the state and federal governments, provides
health care services and prescription drugs
to persons who may not otherwise be able
to afford them.
Prosecutor Brown noted that some important
cases have started with anonymous tips.
People who are concerned about insurance
cheating and have information about a fraud
can report it anonymously by calling the
toll-free hotline 1-877-55-FRAUD
or visiting the Web at www.NJInsuranceFraud.org.
State regulations permit an award to be
paid to an eligible person who provides
information that leads to an arrest, prosecution
and conviction for insurance fraud.
|
