Friday, May 23, 2014

Smiles And Giggles Dentist Arrested On Fraud Charges

Dr. Miranda Smith Caught In Medicaid Fraud Investigation

SPRING HILL, FL. -- Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, with the assistance of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Pasco County Dentist Dr. Miranda Smith on charges of Medicaid Provider fraud.

Dr. Smith, owner of Smiles and Giggles Dentistry for Children and Adults in Pasco County, allegedly billed Florida’s Medicaid program more than $140,000 in dental services which were either unauthorized or not provided.

The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit initiated its investigation of Smith and her dental practice after receiving complaints about suspicious billing from parents and patients. According to the investigation, Smith billed Medicaid for x-rays, anesthesia, and other dental procedures that were not performed. Additionally, former patients alleged that Smith’s employees provided dental care, even though these employees were not licensed dentists.

One dissatisfied parent wrote in a review of the dentist's office, "WORST EXPERIENCE EVER! First we wonder how ONE doctor can see SO MANY PATIENTS A DAY, and then i was walking with my child back to the room with the assistant, and looked in another room to find an assistant DRILLING on a childs teeth. Needless to say, I told them that I was concerned with this, and I wasn't comfortable leaving the room, and then they told me that if I didn't leave the room, they would not see my son. Also, I was treated very rudely, and I asked to speak to the Doctor herself, and was treated very badly by her, when I questioned why there was someone besides her drilling on teeth, the Doctor walked out of the room without answering me, and then an assistant came back and told me that I was going to be referred elsewhere, after I had waited OVER 2 HOURS to be seen by the dentist."

According to the investigation, at least one minor patient's parent was told her child had eight cavities and would need to be sedated to perform urgent dental work. The parent received a second opinion from a dentist with more than two decades of experience. The dentist performed her own examination and found that the child had no cavities.

Another parent wrote, "After our first filling appointment, I thought this was a decent office, as they seemed to have been patient with my son that has extreme anxiety in regards to dentistry. The disappointing part came when after his next 6 month check up they tell me they now have to fill a tooth that I paid to have filled 6 months prior. Turns out they decided not to fill that one at that time, even though I paid for it and they billed my insurance for it."

Investigators also found that Dr. Smith and staff exhibited a pattern of pulling healthy teeth in an effort to sell patients dentures and make larger Medicaid claims.

Smith is being charged with two counts of Medicaid Fraud. If convicted, she could face up to 10 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. The Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute this case.

The Florida Department of Health’s Board of Dentistry voted on May 16, 2014, to suspend the license of Miranda W. Smith, D.D.S., in case number 2011-12390. This suspension will become a Final Order of the board within the next few business days.

18 comments:

  1. You only wrote part of the story. I know her these allegations were made by two girls she fired a few years agoe

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous1:15 PM

      These allegations were made by teo girls that were fired? I doubt it. Why would so many patients come fourth then? Explain that. Why medicaid was investigating her before they got fired? Try again.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous10:27 PM

    I took my kids to Dr. Smith for 3 years. We have private insurance and chose her because she and her staff were great with the kids. yes, we had crazy wait times, but she was worth it. I will follow this to see if it's proven - I hate to think that the allegations may be true, but if they are it's a shame. I referred many friends her way as well. We all liked her so much.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous12:14 AM

    I hope no one rushes to judgment on this. It really shouldn't matter what the patients or the parents say - what matters is what the x-rays show. Did the doctor that found no cavities in the child take x-rays. Did Dr Smith have x-rays. Many times the cavities are between the teeth and many doctors don't take x-rays on small children and miss the cavities. Since this is a fraud case - was a third opinion sought, or was the word of the mother taken as the truth. There should also be x-rays on the lady whose teeth were removed because "her bones were weak" - this sounds like layman speak for gum disease. Just because the teeth did not have cavities does not mean they did not need to be removed. Other than these two allegations most of the stuff is hearsay. If the dentist has documentation and she didn't do anything wrong she will be exonerated.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:44 PM

      this is not an allegation.!! I went there 2 years ago. and she pulled a tooth of mine. I was told, medicaid would not cover my dental work. I am glad parent's have spoken up. This is a scam.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous2:27 AM

      I am one of her victims. All of this is true true true.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous9:45 AM

    But she let DENTAL ASSISTANTS prep children's teeth.how are you okay with that?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous10:14 AM

    I believe ever bit of this. I had a horrible experience at her office and I knew in my heart something was very wrong there after my first and only visit.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous3:08 PM

    I knew it!!!!!...I won't go into detail about my case. I'm taking mine straight to the prosecutor's office... but i will say that everything about that place was suspicious...i hope they put her in prison for the whole 10 years!...she's the very reason our healthcare system is shot to HELL!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous2:11 PM

      Obamas the reason our healthcare systems gone to hell. She is a nice woman with sour employees. William cursed in front of my kids and I'm pretty sure my child got unnecessary crowns. Plus there were teeth on the floor!!!

      Delete
  7. Anonymous3:11 PM

    Once an allegation of wrong doing is made public like this lots of people jump on the band wagon and go for the r ride. It's like a situation where one kid alone would not do anything wrong, but you put a group of kids together and they will beat someone to death or run on a rampage through a store etc. It's the same type of crowd empowerment situation where people in a crowd will do things when they are in the crowd that they would never even consider doing if they were alone. I've also recently heard people who went to this dentist office who told me they really liked the place immediatly after the visit now tell me they want to sue for the very bad treatment they got there. They have a completly different story now than what the told me right after the visit.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous11:14 PM

    Lmao. Try working there. I am no longer there because I didnt want to take part of what was going on in that office. And this was a few years ago. I quit because what she was doing was wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous3:34 PM

    I put the alarm and cameras in that place, she didnt want to pay, i was told by my office to ask for a check before do any more work..she got piss off and call my office and complain of my actitude and accused me of trying to do the work on the side (like i was stupid ..i knew she was not a good pay).i was confronted by my boss and this put in doubt my loyalty tho my employer. .today we see what KARMA does.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous2:14 PM

      She certainly took good care of the fish. The service for tank care was very expensive.

      Delete
  10. Mrs. Heindel12:12 AM

    A few yrs ago my 17 yr old daughter was told that she needed 12 fillings after having xrays done. My daughter has never had anything but perfect checkups. She left in tears. I took her for another opinion at another practice. Guess what? Not one cavity was found!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous11:00 AM

    pulled my daughters 1st tooth and wouldnt let us keep it

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sherry4:00 PM

    When I lived in Spring Hill I used to take my youngest Daughter to her office. She always had perfect check ups..One visit I did not go to. My Parents took her for me. She proceeded to tell them that she needed sealants replaced and she would need to drill into the tooth to place the sealants. Also that her ins plan would not cover it. My ins plan covered sealants on these teeth.. She stated that she had small amount of decay on the teeth. I am a Dental Asst. I have worked in this industry for many years. I knew something was wrong. I brought her into my office. I worked for a Specialist at the time.. I took xrays, checked the teeth myself along with Dentist and there was no decay, no unusual pits in the tooth. We ordered the sealant material and did it ourselves. Needless to say she never went back. I feel bad for individuals that do not have the knowledge. You have to trust what is being told to you. I knew the difference and it was BS. Its sad because I am sure her staff knew she was doing wrong and its hard to watch someone that is supposed to uphold an oath to care for someone just lie and scam them. I did call the office and let them know that I was on to them and I spoke to an Office Mang. Nothing was done. I am so glad I trusted my gut on this. My Daughter is still cavity free and she is 19.

    ReplyDelete