Rockport Dentist Settles Federal Health Care Fraud Complaint

Contact: Andrew K. Lizotte
Assistant United States Attorney
Tel: (207) 780-3257

Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Dr. Daniel P. Schecter, a dentist who provided services in Rockport, Maine, has paid $484,744.80 to settle claims involving improper billing to MaineCare (Maine’s Medicaid program).

After an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Maine Attorney General’s Office throughout which Dr. Schecter cooperated, the United States and the State of Maine filed a civil complaint seeking monetary damages against Dr. Schecter alleging that he violated the federal False Claims Act from January 1, 2009 through November 19, 2012, by improperly billing MaineCare for services rendered without medical necessity and proper supporting documentation, for unsubstantiated tooth extractions and for narcotics prescribed without proper justification.  The settlement amount represents the amount of monies improperly billed by Dr. Schecter and held in suspension by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services as a result of the investigation.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Maine.