Springfield Dentist To Pay $250K For Alleged Medicaid Overpayments

SPRINGFIELD, NJ — A Springfield dentist agreed to pay $250,000 to the Medicaid program to resolve allegations that he improperly billed for services as part of a settlement with the Office of the State Comptroller, Medicaid Fraud Division.

An OSC investigation found that Louis Tratenberg, D.D.S., 67, billed for behavioral management services for Medicaid beneficiaries and didn't have any supporting documentation for it.

Tratenberg also billed for multiple trips to the same facility when, in fact, he saw multiple patients at the facility during a single trip, according to the investigation.

OSC also found that Tratenberg billed certain claims as both fee-for-service and Managed Care Organization claims when such claims should have been billed in only one category.

As part of the settlement, Tratenberg agreed to pay the Medicaid program $250,000 and to correct his documentation and claims submission practices in order to prevent similar re-occurrences, the OSC reported.

“The Medicaid program will be reimbursed for claims that were improperly submitted for payment and protected going forward through the terms of the Corrective Action Plan being put in place. This settlement evidences our continued commitment to the pursuit of fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicaid program,” State Comptroller Philip James Degnan said.

Suspected Medicaid waste, fraud or abuse can be reported to the MFD by calling its toll-free hotline at 888-937-2835 or by submitting a complaint form at www.state.nj.us/comptroller/divisions/medicaid/complaint.html.

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