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A Sunnyvale dentist has been named as a defendant in a Medi-Cal fraud scheme that also includes allegations of abuse and unnecessary dental work.
According a press release from State Attorney General Bill Lockyer's office, Tri Duy Vu, 34, of Sunnyvale, and 19 others were charged in connection with the Hatch Dental clinics in Ceres, Stockton and Modesto, in which owner Kyon Maung Teo recruited dentists from throughout California for his scam operation.
The dentists--including Vu--were given 25 percent of any insurance money made by Hatch Dental through doctored filings, false charts and operations that were never performed but were billed to Medi-Cal anyway, according to the press release.
In addition, many of the dentists performed dangerous operations including unnecessary root canals and fillings, sometimes without sterilizing used tools and without adequate amounts of anesthetic. According to the press release, alleged victims include children and seniors, prompting additional charges of child and elder abuse.
The criminal complaint also names Teo's wife, who is accused of training office staff to falsify documents and changing service or billing dates.
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this fraud should call the Attorney General's Medi-Cal Fraud Hotline at 1.800.722.0432.
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