The authorities behind the Small Smiles chain of dental clinics will pay back 24 million dollars plus interest as a settlement to claims of fraud brought against them last year.
Allegations were first made when whistleblowers contacted the U.S Department of Justice. The owners, FORBA, were accused of scamming the state Medicaid system by carrying out procedures that were not necessary on children from underprivileged backgrounds.
Legal experts and health authorities were outraged at the actions of FORBA, claiming they had taken advantage of poor children and exploited their position of power; the government denounced the actions, claiming they had placed children in unnecessary danger as well as simultaneously fleecing taxpayers of millions of pounds.
Since the allegations, FORBA has denied the claims but has recently agreed to settle the case by paying back over 24 million dollars; however, the company has not admitted to the charges and continues to deny any wrongdoing. FORBA has agreed to review their policy in conjunction with demands made by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services. FORBA has also now pledged to concentrate on delivering the best possible standards of care to children that have come from a tough economic background.
The majority of the money will be paid back into the federal system; money will also be given back to state Medicaid systems and the whistleblowers will also receive a financial payback.
