David Y. Ige

HONOLULU – The State Attorney General filed a fraudulent claims lawsuit in state circuit court today, alleging that Dr. Bryant LaPorte and Edie LaPorte (the “LaPortes”) filed false claims for treatment and services that were not actually provided to Medicaid beneficiaries. The complaint covers the period from 2007-2009 and also alleges that the LaPortes, who operate a dental clinic in Honolulu, charged Medicaid patients additional funds beyond Medicaid’s reimbursement amounts, which would violate federal and state Medicaid rules.

The complaint stems from an audit of the LaPortes’ claims and billings of Medicaid patients. According to the audit the LaPortes allegedly billed for services before they were completed or in some cases when services were never provided, including times when the LaPortes billed for dentures for Medicaid patients, even when dentures were not delivered to these patients.

Attorney General Chin stated, “Medical professionals in Hawaii must abide by all state and federal laws. This is especially true when they treat a more vulnerable section of our community, such as Medicaid patients. The State will not tolerate doctors who bill for services that were not provided.”
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For more information, contact:

Joshua A. Wisch

Special Assistant to the Attorney General

(808) 586-1284

[email protected]

https://ag.hawaii.gov