ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - An East Syracuse dental administrative company will pay $450,000 in civil penalties to the state, and will overhaul the way it does its business in New York as part of a settlement with the state, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said this week.
Aspen Dental Management, Inc., provides support and administrative services to seven independent dental practices with 40 offices in the state. Under the settlement, the company will have to make it clear to consumers that it does not provide dental services.
Aspen also agreed to stop splitting patients' fees with clinics and won't instruct the care provided by dentists and hygienists, Schneiderman said.
“Medical and dental decisions should be made by licensed providers using their best clinical judgment, and should not be influenced by management companies’ shared interest in potential profits,” Schneiderman said. “By enforcing New York’s laws banning the corporate practice of medicine and fee-splitting between medical practitioners and non-licensed individuals and entities, today’s agreement ensures that New Yorkers receive quality dental care.”
The New York Attorney General's Health Care Bureau has received more than 300 complaints by consumers against Aspen Dental since 2005. The complaints regarded concerns over misleading advertising, billing practices, quality of care and other concerns.