Milton man, Boston clinic accused of performing unlicensed dentistry, insurance fraud

A Milton man who managed a dental clinic was charged Monday after allegedly billing the state’s Medicaid program for procedures that were never performed and for practicing dentistry without a license, officials said. 

Fritz Gabriel, 69, reportedly defrauded the state’s insurance system, MassHealth, of about $245,000 by billing for services that were never performed, the office of Attorney General Andrea Campbell said in a statement.

Gabriel was indicted by a Suffolk County Grand Jury Monday on one count each of Medicaid false claims; larceny over $1,200, assault and battery; and unlicensed practice of dentistry. Forest Hills Dental, the clinic Gabriel manages, was charged with one count of Medicaid false claims and one count of larceny over $1,200. 

Prosecutors say Forest Hills and Gabriel billed MassHealth for services like extractions, root canals, and fillings that weren’t provided to members, evident by “subsequent dental examination of those members and/or subsequent x-rays of the teeth at issue,” the AG’s office said. 

“The AG’s Office further determined that Forest Hills billed for dental services provided by Gabriel, who was not a licensed dentist, even though many of the services billed were required to be performed by a licensed dentist,” the statement continues. 

Gabriel also allegedly performed an extraction on a MassHealth member that “left an exposed root in her mouth,” requiring “considerable follow-up care,” the AG’s office said. 

About $245,000 is estimated to have been fraudulently obtained from MassHealth, according to the AG. 

The fraud occurred between January of 2018 to March 1 this year, The Boston Globe reported. 

Gabriel is required to attend a hearing June 13, according to court records obtained by the Globe. 

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