RI man indicted in $20M Medicaid scheme

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) - A North Kingstown man is facing serious charges for allegedly running a $20 million Medicaid fraud scheme in Connecticut.

Former dentist Gary Anusavice, 59, was convicted of a felony in Massachusetts in 1997, for filing fake health care claims. He faced disciplinary action in both Mass. and Rhode Island and was forbidden from participating in Medicare, Medicaid and state health care programs in any capacity.

According to U.S. Attorney David Fein's Office, Anusavice owned and operated several dental clinics between 2009-2011 in Connecticut with the help of a licensed dentist.

The clinics included:

• Landmark Dental in West Haven
• Dental Group of Connecticut in Trumbull
• Dental Group of Stamford

“By surreptitiously operating dental clinics in Connecticut, this defendant allegedly defrauded the Medicaid program of more than $20 million over a two-year period,” said U.S. Attorney David Fein.

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Anusavice reportedly received more than $3 million in payments from the clinics.

Anusavice is facing several charges including conspiring with others to fraudulently obtain money from the Connecticut Medicaid program, health care and wire fraud, making false statements involving the Medicaid Program, and concealment and failure to disclose an event affecting the Medicaid Program.

The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of Anusavice's Rhode Island home, his 2008 Mercedes Benz, and $91,700 in cash that was seized at the time of his arrest.

H e has been detained since his arrest on May 24th