An orthodontist is being accused of fraudulently submitting millions of dollars in false claims to Massachusetts' Medicaid program, MassHealth, according to a March 1 news release from Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey.
The attorney general has filed a lawsuit against Mouhab Rizkallah, DDS, and two companies — Dr. Mouhab Z. Rizkallah, DDS, MSD, PC and The Braces Place of Lawrence (Mass.). The suit claims that since November 2013, the defendants implemented numerous illegal practices with the intent to defraud MassHealth, including keeping children in braces longer than medically necessary and deceptively billing for mouth guards.
"For years, this orthodontist used his young patients as pawns to steal millions of dollars from the state," alleges Ms. Healey.
Dr. Rizkallah runs six orthodontic practices that currently operate under the name "The Braces Place."