An Ohio dentist and dental assistant were among those indicted in the largest healthcare opioid and fraud case in the Department of Justice's history, which included more than 100 medical professionals charged in relation to schemes that defrauded federal healthcare programs and private insurers of more than $6 billion, according to a DOJ news release.
A total of 345 defendants have been accused of submitting fraudulent claims, including William Dalton Thomas, DDS, of Hillsboro, Ohio-based New Market Family Dentistry, and his former dental assistant Amanda Mathews, according to The Highland County Press. Each was charged with seven counts of unlawful distribution and dispensing of controlled substances and one count of conspiracy to commit unlawful distribution and dispensing of controlled substances.
From December 2017 to April 2019, it is alleged that the dentist and dental assistant, who was not qualified to prescribe any controlled substances, intentionally and unlawfully distributed oxycodone to several patients "outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose."
Dr. Thomas and Ms. Mathews have both entered not guilty pleas to all charges.