Lakshmi Bethi DMD, her businesses New Haven Dental, New Haven Family Dental, New Haven Family Dental Group settle federal case for $608,296.

Ellyn Santiago, Patch Staff

NEW HAVEN, CT — Tuesday, a New Haven Based dentist and her three dental practice businesses entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments and paid $608,296.39 to resolve allegations they violated the federal and state False Claims Acts, officials said.

Lakshmi Bethi DMD and her former businesses, New Haven Dental, New Haven Family Dental, and New Haven Family Dental Group, paid $608,296.39 to settle a federal and state False Claims Acts case. All were enrolled as dental providers in the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program, which includes the state’s Medicaid program, U.S. Attorney for CT Vanessa Roberts Avery and CT Attorney General William Tong said.

In violation of the CTMAP provider agreements and the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, its alleged Bethi and her dental practices submitted claims related to dental services rendered to state Medicaid patients. Those patients were referred to her by a third-party 'patient recruiting' company, the officials said.

From Jan. 1, 2019, through April 6, 2023, Bethi and her dental practices paid a patient recruiter $110 for each state Medicaid patient the recruiter referred to them, Avery and Tong said. The patient received services over and above routine preventative care, like cleanings and exams, and claims were submitted for...

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