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TRENTON
- Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal
Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced
that a Manalapan dentist pleaded guilty
today for his role in an insurance billing
scam.
According
to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden
Brown, Gary Osmanoff, 45, of Marlboro, a
dentist licensed in New Jersey whose office
is located in Manalapan, pleaded guilty
before Superior Court Judge Bette Uhrmacher
in Monmouth County to an accusation which
charged him with third-degree health care
claims fraud.
Third-degree
crimes carry a sentence of up to five years
in state prison and a criminal fine of up
to $15,000. Osmanoff may also face civil
insurance fraud fines. The matter will be
referred to the state Board of Dentistry
for any action it deems appropriate with
regard to his license.
At
the guilty plea hearing, Osmanoff admitted
that between August 2, 2001 and June 24,
2004, he submitted false and fraudulent
insurance claims to several dental insurance
companies. Specifically, Osmanoff admitted
that he falsely billed Ameritas Life Insurance
Corporation, Delta Dental Insurance Company,
MetLife Insurance Company and Aetna Insurance
Company.
He
admitted that he submitted the insurance
claims purporting to have provided dental
services to patients when, in fact, those
dental services were not provided. Osmanoff
admitted that he falsely billed the insurance
companies approximately $98,000 and was
paid approximately $22,500 by the insurance
companies in connection with approximately
106 dates when he falsely represented he
provided dental services to approximately
17 patients.
State
Investigator Natalie Brotherston, Civil
Investigator Eric Flickinger and Deputy
Attorney General Joan M. Burke were assigned
to the investigation. DAG Burke represented
the state at the guilty plea hearing.
“When
health care providers commit fraud, it is
particularly disturbing, because the integrity
of the health care insurance claims process
depends on the trustworthiness of the licensed
professionals involved,” said Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden Brown.
Prosecutor
Brown thanked the insurance companies for
their referrals and their assistance in
this investigation.
Osmanoff
is scheduled to appear before Judge Uhrmacher
on Sept. 21 to be sentenced.
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 site 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.
The
Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor was
established by the Automobile Insurance
Cost Reduction Act of 1998. The office is
the centralized state agency that investigates
and prosecutes both civil and criminal insurance
fraud, as well as Medicaid fraud.
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