Worcester — The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) announced today that a Worcester-based dentist and her dental practice were indicted last week in connection with a scheme to defraud the state’s Medicaid program, MassHealth, of more than $2 million.
Meenakshy Yegneswaran, age 55, of Hopkinton, and the company she owns, Pleasant Street Dental, PC (Pleasant Street), were indicted by a Worcester County Grand Jury. The defendants were charged with one count each of Medicaid False Claims, G.L. c. 118E, § 40; Larceny Over $1,200, G.L. c. 266, § 30; and Medicaid Excess Charges, G.L. c. 118E, § 42.
The AGO alleges that Yegneswaran and Pleasant Street billed MassHealth for dental services that were never provided, including during times when Yegneswaran was out of the country. The AGO further alleges that Yegneswaran and Pleasant Street charged MassHealth patients cash for prescription mouthwash that otherwise would have been covered by MassHealth—a practice illegal under Massachusetts law. The estimated amount fraudulently obtained from MassHealth is approximately $2.06 million.
All charges are allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case is being handled by Assistant Attorneys General Sean Hildenbrandt and Natalie Rutkowski; Investigations Supervisor Heather Dwyer; Investigator Rachel Wiesler; and Digital Analyst Investigator Fatima Tanveer—all from the AGO’s Medicaid Fraud Division. Substantial assistance during the investigation was provided by MassHealth, DentaQuest, the AGO’s Digital Evidence Lab, and the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AGO.
This matter represents the AGO’s ongoing efforts to hold accountable those who misuse roles of authority or public trust through abuse of the MassHealth program. In May 2024, indictments were announced against a Boston-based dental practice and its manager for defrauding MassHealth and engaging in unlicensed dentistry practices. Similarly in March 2024, indictments were announced against a Falmouth dentist and dental practice for submitting nearly $200,000 in false claims to MassHealth for services not provided or required to be performed by a dentist but were not.
The Massachusetts Medicaid Fraud Division receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $5,865,996 for federal fiscal year 2024. The remaining 25 percent totaling $1,955,330 for FY 2024 is funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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