Smile Starters Dental, formerly Medicaid Dental Center (MDC), is a chain of dental clinics in North Carolina. As MDC, it operated under the names Smile Starters and Carolina Dental Center.[1] Historically, its owners were Letitia L. "Tish" Ballance of Charlotte, North Carolina and Michael DeRose of Pueblo, Colorado. DeRose was also a partner in FORBA, the company that owns the Small Smiles Dental Centers.[2] In 2008 the chain operated seven dental clinics.[3]
In 2003, WCNC-TV NewsChannel 36 I-Team aired a report showing children and parents alleging that MDC clinics had given unnecessary treatment. The news channel report stated that dentists at the chain were paid bonuses for the amount of dental work that was performed, and that the clinics of the chain separated children from parents and had performed unnecessary dental work. In 2005 the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners held a hearing on the chain's operations.[2] That year, Ballance entered a consent order with the state dental board in which she agreed not to contest allegations from seven patients that she had performed excessive treatment. Ballance did not admit guilt.[1]
As announced in an April 2008 release by the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ),[1] MDC and its two owners reached a settlement with the USDOJ. The company paid back $5 million and added $5 million in fines. The chain did not admit to any wrongdoing.[2] Ballance and DeRose were personally liable under the False Claims Act because they submitted claims for reimbursement that involved performing unnecessary pulpotomies (colloquially "baby root canals").[1]
In 2008 one patient who had received fourteen pulpotomies in one sitting sued the chain.[4] In 2010 the chain announced that it would pay back $24 million. By that year, one family suing the chain had settled its civil suit.[2] On April 11, 2011, Ballance announced that her business, Carolina West Dental in Conover, North Carolina, would close on April 15. She left Catawba County.[1] In addition, nine dentists received sanctions in relation to their work at Medicaid Dental Center clinics.[5]
Rafael Rivera, Jr. said that he bought Smile Starters in 2008. The company changed its name to Smile Starters. In 2013 a mother of three children accused a Smile Starters clinic of fraudulently diagnosing cavities on her children. The television station WTVD aired a report about the accusation.[6]
^ abcdWatson, Stewart. "Medicaid dentists pay taxpayers back $24 million." () WCNC-TV. January 20, 2010. Retrieved on May 15, 2013.
^Wolf, Jeffrey and Deborah Sherman. "Dentist performed 'unnecessary' work on children and billed taxpayers." (Archive) KUSA-TV 9 News. April 11, 2008. Retrieved on May 15, 2013.
^"CHILD SUES DENTISTS OVER CARE, LAWSUIT ALLEGES MALPRACTICE IN TREATMENT AT MEDICAID PRACTICE." Charlotte Observer. April 19, 2008. p. 1B Metro. Retrieved on May 15, 2013.
^"MEDICAID DENTISTS DISCIPLINED, PROBATION, REPRIMANDS WERE GIVEN BEFORE $10 MILLION SETTLEMENT." Charlotte Observer. April 11, 2008. 1A Main. Retrieved on May 15, 2013.
^"Are some dentists doing unnecessary procedures?." WTVD 11 Eyewitness News. Retrieved on May 15, 2013. (Owner information begins at 5:35)
smile, starters, dental, formerly, medicaid, dental, center, chain, dental, clinics, north, carolina, operated, under, names, carolina, dental, center, historically, owners, were, letitia, tish, ballance, charlotte, north, carolina, michael, derose, pueblo, co. Smile Starters Dental formerly Medicaid Dental Center MDC is a chain of dental clinics in North Carolina As MDC it operated under the names Smile Starters and Carolina Dental Center 1 Historically its owners were Letitia L Tish Ballance of Charlotte North Carolina and Michael DeRose of Pueblo Colorado DeRose was also a partner in FORBA the company that owns the Small Smiles Dental Centers 2 In 2008 the chain operated seven dental clinics 3 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory editIn 2003 WCNC TV NewsChannel 36 I Team aired a report showing children and parents alleging that MDC clinics had given unnecessary treatment The news channel report stated that dentists at the chain were paid bonuses for the amount of dental work that was performed and that the clinics of the chain separated children from parents and had performed unnecessary dental work In 2005 the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners held a hearing on the chain s operations 2 That year Ballance entered a consent order with the state dental board in which she agreed not to contest allegations from seven patients that she had performed excessive treatment Ballance did not admit guilt 1 As announced in an April 2008 release by the United States Department of Justice USDOJ 1 MDC and its two owners reached a settlement with the USDOJ The company paid back 5 million and added 5 million in fines The chain did not admit to any wrongdoing 2 Ballance and DeRose were personally liable under the False Claims Act because they submitted claims for reimbursement that involved performing unnecessary pulpotomies colloquially baby root canals 1 In 2008 one patient who had received fourteen pulpotomies in one sitting sued the chain 4 In 2010 the chain announced that it would pay back 24 million By that year one family suing the chain had settled its civil suit 2 On April 11 2011 Ballance announced that her business Carolina West Dental in Conover North Carolina would close on April 15 She left Catawba County 1 In addition nine dentists received sanctions in relation to their work at Medicaid Dental Center clinics 5 Rafael Rivera Jr said that he bought Smile Starters in 2008 The company changed its name to Smile Starters In 2013 a mother of three children accused a Smile Starters clinic of fraudulently diagnosing cavities on her children The television station WTVD aired a report about the accusation 6 See also editAll Smiles Dental Centers Aspen Dental Kool Smiles ReachOut Healthcare AmericaReferences edit a b c d e Beeker Ladonna Dentist closes clinic Archive The Observer News Enterprise May 31 2011 Retrieved on May 15 2013 a b c d Watson Stewart Medicaid dentists pay taxpayers back 24 million Archive WCNC TV January 20 2010 Retrieved on May 15 2013 Wolf Jeffrey and Deborah Sherman Dentist performed unnecessary work on children and billed taxpayers Archive KUSA TV 9 News April 11 2008 Retrieved on May 15 2013 CHILD SUES DENTISTS OVER CARE LAWSUIT ALLEGES MALPRACTICE IN TREATMENT AT MEDICAID PRACTICE Charlotte Observer April 19 2008 p 1B Metro Retrieved on May 15 2013 MEDICAID DENTISTS DISCIPLINED PROBATION REPRIMANDS WERE GIVEN BEFORE 10 MILLION SETTLEMENT Charlotte Observer April 11 2008 1A Main Retrieved on May 15 2013 Are some dentists doing unnecessary procedures WTVD 11 Eyewitness News Retrieved on May 15 2013 Owner information begins at 5 35 External links edit nbsp United States portal nbsp Companies portal nbsp Medicine portal Official Website EG Dental Clinic NOA Dental Clinic Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Smile Starters amp oldid 1213483513, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
