State sues Stamford dental practice

Attorney General George Jepsen is suing nearly 30 individuals, dental practices and affiliated companies, claiming they were in cahoots to fraudulently charge $24 million to the state Medicaid program over two years.

Jepsen is seeking restitution, treble damages and civil penalties.

Mehran Zamani, a Pound Ridge, N.Y., resident whom Jepsen”™s complaint lists also as a resident of Stamford, was among those sued, a week after his arrest on federal criminal charges. U.S. Attorney David Fein’s office calculated the charges at $20 million.

According to the federal and state complaints, North Kingston, R.I., resident Gary Anusavice was convicted in 1997 of filing false health care claims for dental care reimbursement in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and barred from participating Medicare and state Medicaid programs.

Fein and Jepsen allege that despite the exclusion, Anusavice  set up a number of dental practices around Connecticut including in Stamford and Trumbull. Prosecutors say Zamani and others knew of Anusavice’s legal status but took millions of dollars in Medicaid reimbursements.

“This is the first case the state has initiated under the Connecticut False Claims Act,” Jepsen said, in a prepared statement. “It gives the state the rightful ability to seek compensation for taxpayers from those who seek to abuse the system with false claims for reimbursements they are not eligible to receive.”

Dental practices and companies named in the suit include:

Ӣ E.G.A. Management Inc.;

Ӣ Haven Consulting Inc.;

Ӣ AMZ Consulting Inc.;

Ӣ Dental Care of Connecticut Inc.;

Ӣ N.B. Dental Inc.;

Ӣ Electron Marketing Inc.

Ӣ Dental Group of Stamford L.L.C.

Ӣ Dentists Group of Stamford P.C.

Ӣ Dental Group of Connecticut L.L.C.;

Ӣ Dentists Group of Connecticut P.C.;

Ӣ Dental Group of Waterbury L.L.C.;

Ӣ Dentists Group of Waterbury P.C.;

Ӣ Dental Group of Danbury P.C.;

Ӣ Dental Group of New Britain P.C.;

Ӣ Dental Group of Hartford P.C.;

Ӣ Hartford Dental Care L.L.C.;

Ӣ Hartford Dental Inc. P.C.;

Ӣ Arbor Dental Association L.L.C.;

Ӣ Alpha Dental Group P.C.; and

Ӣ Wintonbury Dental Associates P.C.