Former dental group boss jailed 3 years for cheating S$288,000 of patients’ MediSave funds

[covertbriar]

SINGAPORE — The former managing director of Smile Division Dental Group was jailed for three years on Thursday (Aug 12) for taking part in a scheme to cheat the Government of hundreds and thousands of dollars through fraudulent MediSave claims.

Cecil Goh Chin Chye, 52, was among four of the dental group’s employees charged in relation to the fraud. He is the last one to be dealt with by the courts.

The employees had taken nearly S$1 million from 29 patients’ accounts by submitting claims to the Central Provident Board (CPF) Board, which oversees the MediSave savings scheme, for non-existent surgeries between 2011 and 2014.

The illicit profits went into their own and Smile Division’s pockets.

The total sum disbursed in respect of Goh’s nine patients amounted to S$288,900.

After Goh was first charged in 2017, he committed more offences by getting several forged invoices in order to back up his assertion that his clinics made a loss or little profit from the scheme. He then sent the documents to the prosecution.

He pleaded guilty earlier this year to 36 charges, mostly for conspiring to cheat and commit forgery. Principal District Judge Victor Yeo considered another 214 similar charges for sentencing.

Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapo...ears-cheating-s288000-patients-medisave-funds

 

[jw5]

If Chin Chye had been more chin chye where it came to the love for money, he would not have landed himself in this predicament.

 

[nayr69sg]

non-existent surgeries between 2011 and 2014

 

[laksaboy]

Can't blame him, the dental industry is super competitive.

 

[nayr69sg]

Can't blame him, the dental industry is super competitive.

But to bill for non existent work......that one too much lah.

 

[batman1]

But to bill for non existent work......that one too much lah.

If cost of dental implant is $4K,customer can can only deduct $1,250 (cap) from his medisave A/c ,he got to pay cash $2,750.
If the nature of dental implant is reported as dental surgery covering over more than 1 day,so that the customer can deduct $4K from his medisave a/c , he does not have to pay any cash. In fact,the customer is paying in full $4K from his medisave a/c under the CPF Board. If the customer has to pay cash $2,750 ,most likely he would not do the dental implant surgery.

 

[sweetiepie]

But to bill for non existent work......that one too much lah.

KNN seriouslee it is not easy to tell what service has the dentist done if the non existent work they charged are those common ones eg fillings fluoride etc but not extraction or crown etc KNN eg if they do 2 they can charge 3 KNN once we open our mouth the rest of the procedures are transparent to us KNN

 

[Xisiqomelir]

non-existent surgeries between 2011 and 2014

The slow arm of the law.

 

[nayr69sg]

If cost of dental implant is $4K,customer can can only deduct $1,250 (cap) from his medisave A/c ,he got to pay cash $2,750.
If the nature of dental implant is reported as dental surgery covering over more than 1 day,so that the customer can deduct $4K from his medisave a/c , he does not have to pay any cash. In fact,the customer is paying in full $4K from his medisave a/c under the CPF Board. If the customer has to pay cash $2,750 ,most likely he would not do the dental implant surgery.

So that's fraud lor.....

Cheating what.....

The insurance program knows how it works. If the patient got to pay some amount then they have more reason to not want to do it.

 

[nayr69sg]

KNN seriouslee it is not easy to tell what service has the dentist done if the non existent work they charged are those common ones eg fillings fluoride etc but not extraction or crown etc KNN eg if they do 2 they can charge 3 KNN once we open our mouth the rest of the procedures are transparent to us KNN

Can audit to check one.

Can ask patient what was done. Can also check with the staff on procedure.

Like I said earlier.....want to get to top......usually got some shenanigans.

 

[nayr69sg]

The slow arm of the law.

Professionals are supposed to have fiduciary duty. Ie they do things for the good not for money.

That's why usually no audit or check. Often the checks get put in when the claims are exceedingly high. In other words when you very successful reach the top and making lots of money more than everyone else.......then you get flagged.

 

[batman1]

So that's fraud lor.....

Cheating what.....

The insurance program knows how it works. If the patient got to pay some amount then they have more reason to not want to do it.

The CPF Board asserted that the allowable deduction (ceiling) from the patient medisave a/c is only $1,250 and the balance $2,750 should be paid in cash by the patient
and should not be paid by patient medisave a/c.

 

[nayr69sg]

The CPF Board asserted that the allowable deduction (ceiling) from the patient medisave a/c is only $1,250 and the balance $2,750 should be paid in cash by the patient
and should not be paid by patient medisave a/c.

My guess is they tried this a few patients (maybe out of compassion to try to really help patients needing procedure but no cash) and it worked.

Then word of mouth. Business got better. Everyone want to do the same (no need pay cash good right?)

Dental chain became well known for this scheme. I bet you ALL the patients absolutely LOVE the dentist and the clinic!

Then CPF said hmmmm how come we paying so much to this dental clinic chain more than all the other dental clinics? Wah so many surgery! That's not normal to have so many surgeries. cannot be lah.

And when they closed all the patients DAMN ANGRY say why close down the good dental clinics and charge the good dentists?

 

[nayr69sg]

I think if the quantum were smaller maybe can still get away with it lah.

eg

If cost of treatment eg visit to XYZ is $40, customer can can only deduct $12.50 (cap) from his medisave A/c ,he got to pay cash $27.50
If the nature of treatment is reported as ABC covering over more than 1 day,so that the customer can deduct $40 from his medisave a/c , he does not have to pay any cash. In fact,the customer is paying in full $40 from his medisave a/c under the CPF Board. If the customer has to pay cash $27.50 , it is still possible he might still do the treatment

Visit to GP clinic is around that kind of price right? $40. Vs $4000. You can see how GP is 50 times poorer than dentists lah (dentists more costs but still)

 

[batman1]

My guess is they tried this a few patients (maybe out of compassion to try to really help patients needing procedure but no cash) and it worked.

Then word of mouth. Business got better. Everyone want to do the same (no need pay cash good right?)

Dental chain became well known for this scheme. I bet you ALL the patients absolutely LOVE the dentist and the clinic!

Then CPF said hmmmm how come we paying so much to this dental clinic chain more than all the other dental clinics? Wah so many surgery! That's not normal to have so many surgeries. cannot be lah.

And when they closed all the patients DAMN ANGRY say why close down the good dental clinics and charge the good dentists?

U are correct. For big surgery jobs costing about $4K to $5K per dental implant or per wisdom tooth ,it's a win-win situation for the dental clinic and the patient.The dental clinic got more business and the patient do not have to pay in cash. Possibly,incriminating information against the dental clinic was given to the authorities due to business rivalry.

 

[nayr69sg]

U are correct. For big surgery jobs costing about $4K to $5K per dental implant or per wisdom tooth ,it's a win-win situation for the dental clinic and the patient.The dental clinic got more business and the patient do not have to pay in cash. Possibly,incriminating information against the dental clinic was given to the authorities due to business rivalry.

What is your opinion then?

That the dentist and the clinic were good people trying to help patients even break rules to go help and don't deserve this punishment?

Or

That the dentist and the clinic break rules, cheat system, rules are rules, deserve what they get?

Or

Somewhere in between? LOL!

 

[Leongsam]

Hardly worth the effort for such a small sum. A pimp can easily earn the same amount in a year.

 

[syed putra]

Queue to see dentist longer than to get vaccinated. You must wait over a week before can get a appointment. And yet.....

 

[nayr69sg]

Hardly worth the effort for such a small sum. A pimp can easily earn the same amount in a year.

Sigh I should be a pimp. S$288,900? I earn less than half of that as a Dr.

Hey Sam, seriously is it legal? Pimping?

 

[Leckmichamarsch]

View attachment 120060

SINGAPORE — The former managing director of Smile Division Dental Group was jailed for three years on Thursday (Aug 12) for taking part in a scheme to cheat the Government of hundreds and thousands of dollars through fraudulent MediSave claims.

Cecil Goh Chin Chye, 52, was among four of the dental group’s employees charged in relation to the fraud. He is the last one to be dealt with by the courts.

The employees had taken nearly S$1 million from 29 patients’ accounts by submitting claims to the Central Provident Board (CPF) Board, which oversees the MediSave savings scheme, for non-existent surgeries between 2011 and 2014.

The illicit profits went into their own and Smile Division’s pockets.

The total sum disbursed in respect of Goh’s nine patients amounted to S$288,900.

After Goh was first charged in 2017, he committed more offences by getting several forged invoices in order to back up his assertion that his clinics made a loss or little profit from the scheme. He then sent the documents to the prosecution.

He pleaded guilty earlier this year to 36 charges, mostly for conspiring to cheat and commit forgery. Principal District Judge Victor Yeo considered another 214 similar charges for sentencing.

Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapo...ears-cheating-s288000-patients-medisave-funds

are those cheated refunded????
there is another not so honest in Upper Changi Rd
Most dentists are like dat