Nancy Pelosi's New Anti-Colbert Effort
Sick Puppies Walk To Hospital, Wait In Lobby
(March 16) -- Open wide and say "fraud."
A grand jury in Bristol County, Mass., has indicted a dentist for bilking Medicare for false claims, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said today. Michael Clair, 51, stands accused of using pieces of paper clips for root canal procedures, then billing Medicare for much costlier stainless steel posts instead.
Clair was indicted on charges of submitting false Medicaid claims using other dentists' provider numbers, and for illegally prescribing the prescription drugs hydrocodone, Combunox and Percocet to members of his own staff.
The Massachusetts grand jury also indicted Clair on two counts of assault and battery, and three counts of larceny. The Attorney General's Office said that between 2003 and 2005, Clair illegally billed Medicaid approximately $130,000.
"In certain instances, paper clips can be used temporarily," Coakley's office said in a written statement, "but authorities allege Clair intended for the paperclips, which can cause infection, discomfort and pain, to be a permanent fix for his patients. The practice, authorities allege, was intended by Clair to reduce costs."
A spokesperson at the Attorney General's Office told AOL News that Clair now lives in Maryland, where authorities are seeking to serve notice of the indictments Tuesday. "To the best of our knowledge," the spokesperson said, "Mr. Clair has not yet retained counsel."
Dentist Charged Over Using Paper Clips in Root Canals
Mar 16, 2010 – 3:15 PM
White House Bending On Birth Control Rule
WATCH: Obama Shoots Down Reporters Over Controversial Ruling
Presidential Candidates, Conservative Leaders Hit Washington
Rick Santorum Gets Rock Star Treatment At CPAC
Bioterror Death Germs Thrive In Labs, Nature, As U.S. Funding Withers
Siri-like App Gives Racist, Bigoted Answers, Forces Company To Make Policy Changes
Mitt Romney's Struggles Take Republican Angst To New Heights
Two Bombs Hit Security Headquarters In Syria's Aleppo
Mike Huckabee CPAC Speech: 'We Are All Catholics Now'
Steve Jobs FBI File Reveals Bomb Threat, 'Tendency To Distort Reality' And More
Obama's Contraception Rule A Matter Of Life-Altering Care For Some
The States Where Companies Are Hiring
Mortgage Settlement Makes Fresh Promise To Curb Bank Bad Behavior
WATCH: Conservative Pundit's Nasty Attack On Maddow
Things Get Worse For U.S. Postal Service
U.S. Bans Health Insurance Company Fine Print, Allows Baffling Terms
Arab Spring Shot Wins World Press Photo Of The Year Award
Largest Mass Drug Arrest In Colorado History
Trump's Unhinged Attack On Lawrence O'Donnell
