Queens Tribune

A dentist, whose practice is in Middle Village, was charged for skimming profits from four insurance companies and many of his patients over a five-year period.

David Lewis, 40, of New Hyde Park was charged with multiple counts of grand larceny and fraud after allegedly stealing $29,000 in the insurance scheme.

“The complaint charges the defendant with billing the insurance companies for costly procedures that were never performed. His customers were also allegedly victimized as many dental plans give an allowance for the year. When the insurance companies did pay out on the costly allegedly fake treatments it would eat up the allowance and leave the patients without insurance for routine procedures. Also, when insurers did not cover the entire cost of an expensive treatment, the defendant allegedly billed patients for the balance,” Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said.
Lewis allegedly submitted insurance claims for costly procedures, such as periodontal scaling and root planning — when in fact he had only been performing routine cleanings, between May 2003 and May 2007, the criminal complaint said.

Aetna Health Insurance Company, Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Delta Dental Insurance Company and Guardian Life Insurance Company were among the companies charged in the phony medical bills.

Investigators interviewed many of Lewis’ patients, who
allegedly said they did not have appointments on the dates billed to the insurance companies. Other patients allegedly said Lewis did not perform the periodontal scaling and root planning that companies were charged for, according to the complaint.

If convicted, Lewis faces up to seven years in prison and the loss of his dental license.