A federal indictment has accused oral surgeon Gary Morgan Schwarz, DDS, of McAllen, Texas, of bilking Medicaid more than $4 million by billing certain dental procedures under more expensive medical procedure classes, according to a report from The Monitor.
The 22-count federal indictment alleges Dr. Schwarz billed the government for procedures, like sedating patients, which were performed by unqualified dental assistants in settings in which he was not licensed to operate. Dr. Schwarz allegedly accepted referrals from other dentists, performed operations in their offices and then gave them a cut for the Medicaid billings collected.
Dr. Schwarz's lawyer said every procedure performed and billed for by Dr. Schwarz was legal.
Dr. Schwarz's trial has begun, and testimony is expected to continue into next week. If convicted, Dr. Schwarz could be sentenced for up to 10 years in prison.
Read The Monitor report on Dr. Gary Morgan Schwarz.
Read about other physicians involved in fraud:
- 10 Physicians Accused or Convicted of Fraud
The 22-count federal indictment alleges Dr. Schwarz billed the government for procedures, like sedating patients, which were performed by unqualified dental assistants in settings in which he was not licensed to operate. Dr. Schwarz allegedly accepted referrals from other dentists, performed operations in their offices and then gave them a cut for the Medicaid billings collected.
Dr. Schwarz's lawyer said every procedure performed and billed for by Dr. Schwarz was legal.
Dr. Schwarz's trial has begun, and testimony is expected to continue into next week. If convicted, Dr. Schwarz could be sentenced for up to 10 years in prison.
Read The Monitor report on Dr. Gary Morgan Schwarz.
Read about other physicians involved in fraud:
- 10 Physicians Accused or Convicted of Fraud