A dental license attorney is perfect for these incidents, since overcharging a patient may be grounds for suspension or revocation of your dental license. This is what exactly happened to a dentist who failed to contact assistance when she faced a complaint about overcharging patients multiple times.
The incident happened on or about February 10, 2010, when she performed a treatment to a patient for performing oral surgery. However, it seems that the dentist conducted a grave mistake when she added extra amounts to the fees provided to the patient for undergoing surgical treatment. Therefore, she overcharged the patient with an exorbitant price, knowing that the surgical treatment is already expensive enough.
This is why the patient decided to contact the Texas Board of Dental Examiners for further assistance regarding the issue. The dentist was advised to defend against the complaint filed against her. She stated that she provided extra fees due to the procedures that were added, as well as the cost of certain medication.
However, upon investigation followed up by the Board, they noticed that the price does not match the additional treatment and medication provided to the patient. Therefore, they have proven that the patient was overcharged with a very high fee. This has effectively placed the dentist’s license to suspension.
The Texas Board of Dental Examiners has full jurisdiction over all dental license cases which may affect a dentist’s career through the means of disciplinary action, suspension or revocation. Failure to hire a dental license attorney during a hearing with the Board can definitely place you into an unfavorable position as a dentist.
The Texas Administrative Code, specifically Chapter 108 provides for the violations:
(1) Criminal conduct–including but not limited to conviction of a misdemeanor involving fraud or a felony under federal law or the law of any state as outlined in Chapter 101 of this title.
(2) Deception or misrepresentation–engages in deception or misrepresentation:
(A) in soliciting or obtaining patronage; or
(B) in obtaining a fee.
(3) Fraud in obtaining a license–obtains a license by fraud or misrepresentation or participates in a conspiracy to procure a license, registration, or certification for an unqualified person.
(4) Misconduct involving drugs or alcohol–actions or conduct that include, but are not limited to:
(A) providing dental services to a patient while the licensee is impaired through the use of drugs, narcotics, or alcohol;
(B) addicted to or habitually intemperate in the use of alcoholic beverages or drugs;
(C) improperly obtained, possessed, or used habit-forming drugs or narcotics including self-prescription of drugs;
(D) grossly over prescribes, dispenses, or administers narcotic drugs, dangerous drugs, or controlled substances;
(E) prescribes, dispenses, or administers narcotic drugs, dangerous drugs, or controlled substances to or for a person who is not his or her dental patient; or
(F) prescribes, dispenses, or administers narcotic drugs, dangerous drugs, or controlled substances to a person for a non-dental purpose, whether or not the person is a dental patient.
(5) Assisting another in engaging in the unauthorized practice of dentistry or dental hygiene–holds a dental license and employs, permits, or has employed or permitted a person not licensed to practice dentistry to practice dentistry in an office of the dentist that is under the dentist’s control or management.
(6) Failure to comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and orders or remedial plans–violates or refuses to comply with a law relating to the regulation of dentists, dental hygienists, or dental assistants; fails to cooperate with a Board investigation; or fails to comply with the terms of a Board Order or remedial plan.
(7) Inability to practice safely–is physically or mentally incapable of practicing in a manner that is safe for the person’s dental patients.
(8) Discipline of a licensee by another state board–holds a license or certificate to practice dentistry or dental hygiene in another state and the examining board of that state:
(A) reprimands the person;
(B) suspends or revokes the person’s license or certificate or places the person on probation; or
(C) imposes another restriction on the person’s practice.
(9) Failure to comply with Medicaid, insurance, or other regulatory laws–knowingly provides or agrees to provide dental care in a manner that violates a federal or state law that:
(A) regulates a plan to provide, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any part of the cost of dental care services; or
(B) regulates the business of insurance.
(10) Improper delegation–improperly delegates any task to any individual who is not permitted to perform the task by law, this chapter, or practice restrictions imposed by Board Order.
(11) Unprofessional conduct–engages in conduct that has become established through professional experience as likely to disgrace, degrade, or bring discredit upon the licensee or the dental profession.
That’s why it’s best to hire a dental license attorney if you ever need further assistance regarding cases that you did not intentionally cause, such as adding extra fees over a certain treatment. For further information or to schedule a private consultation, please contact dental license attorney Yong J. An by dialing (832) 428-5679.