To Settle Civil Health Care Fraud Case, Damariscotta Dentist Agrees to Pay $90,000

A Damariscotta dentist will pay $90,000 after he entered a civil settlement agreement with the United States and the State of Maine, said the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Joseph W. Griffin, D.M.D. will make the payment for allegations he submitted false claims to MaineCare, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

The complaint states that Dr. Griffin allegedly violated state and federal False Claim Acts with claims for unnecessary dental procedures that were not rendered. Patient's records were not documented adequately as well, according to the civil complaint.

Here's more information from the U.S. Attorney's office press release:

Portland, Maine:  Acting United States Attorney Richard W. Murphy today announced that Joseph W. Griffin, D.M.D. (“Dr. Griffin”) has entered into a civil settlement agreement with the United States and the State of Maine in which he will pay $90,000 to resolve allegations that he submitted false claims to MaineCare (Maine’s Medicaid program) from July 1, 2014 through July 1, 2015.  MaineCare is primarily funded by the United States which pays about two-thirds of all claims submitted to MaineCare.

According to a civil complaint, Dr. Griffin was alleged to have violated the state and federal False Claims Acts by submitted claims totaling $164,972 to MaineCare for dental services that were not rendered, were medically unnecessary, or were so inadequately documented in the patient’s medical record as to be unreviewable, all in violation of the requirements of the MaineCare Program.  The settlement amount reflected Dr. Griffin’s inability to repay the full amount improperly billed and his retirement from his dentistry practice.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General and Maine Attorney General’s Health Care Crimes Unit.  The civil action is docketed United States and the State of Maine v. Joseph W. Griffin, D.M.D., 2:17-cv-00162-JAW (D. Me.).