Dentists to Pay $3.1 Million to Resolve Allegations They Submitted False Claims for Services Not Provided to Underprivileged Children

U.S. Attorney’s Office – Northern District of Texas, May 14, 2021

Two North Texas dentists, their dental management companies, and certain affiliated pediatric dental practices have paid the United States $3.1 million to resolve allegations that they defrauded the Texas Medicaid program and violated the False Claims Act by knowingly billing for pediatric dental services that were not rendered or that falsely identified the person who provided the service, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah of the Northern District of Texas.

“These defendants knowingly defrauded Medicaid, a program that provides medical coverage for more than 4 million low-income Texans,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Shah. “If they thought they could get away with this scam by targeting underprivileged populations, they were sorely mistaken.”

Drs. Gunjan Dhir, 43, and Gaurav Puri, also 43, have owned and operated dental clinics and dental management companies throughout Texas since 2009.  The clinics serve primarily low-income children enrolled in the Texas Medicaid program; the dental management companies provide management and administrative services to the clinics. After opening their first dental clinic in 2009, Drs. Dhir and Puri rapidly expanded their operation to include 35 dental clinics operating statewide by 2015.

Read more.