A dentist in California along with five of his dental practice employees were arrested for allegedly operating an illegal billing scheme, defrauding the state's Medicaid program of about $850,000, according to the State of California Office of the Attorney General.
Dr. Husam Aldairi, who operates clinics in San Diego, and his employees Rawaa Attar, Lilyan Krikorian, Inci Narin, Laith Alani, and Fadi Shammas were charged with felony counts of conspiracy to commit a crime and fraud, according to a press release dated October 17 from the state attorney general.
Aldairi's clinics contracted with Borrego Community Health Foundation, a federally qualified health center that serves Medicaid patients in the state. Under the state program, Aldairi was entitled to receive reimbursements for each patient visit, not for specific dental services performed, according to the release.
Aldairi is accused of fraudulently billing the program for services that were either not performed or that weren't done over multiple days as he reportedly did to maximize reimbursements. Between 2016 and 2020, Aldair and his employees allegedly fraudulently billed the state program for more than $847,000, according to the release.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
