Louisiana dentist put on 5 years’ probation for Medicaid fraud

A Baton Rouge judge put a Shreveport dentist on probation for five years Tuesday, including two years of home incarceration, for defrauding the state’s Medicaid system.

State District Judge Lou Daniel also ordered Dr. David Earl Reed, 56, to pay a $1,000 fine and $1,100 in restitution, and perform 300 hours of community service.

Daniel found Reed guilty in January on two counts of Medicaid fraud.

After pleading no contest in 1992 to Medicaid fraud, Reed was excluded from the Medicaid program and remains excluded.

Despite his prohibition from taking part in the program, Reed continued to do so by obtaining employment from 2005 through 2007 with a Shreveport dentist, who is now deceased, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office said.

During that time period, Reed treated Medicaid recipients, caused false billing claims to be submitted to Medicaid under the other dentist’s provider number for the services he rendered, and received payment from Medicaid monies, prosecutors said.

Excluded individuals cannot provide any services that will be billed directly or indirectly to Medicaid, and it is a crime to be employed by, contract with, or have an ownership interest in any health-care provider which bills Medicaid, the Attorney General’s Office noted.

Reed faced up to five years in prison and fines totaling $20,000 on each count.

Reed did not make a statement in court Tuesday, but Daniel said Reed sent him a letter expressing his remorse and asking for leniency and forgiveness.

Daniel, who said he has no doubt that Reed was a “capable dentist,” noted that Reed now will likely lose his medical license.

“That’s a shame,” the judge said.

Daniel said Reed’s background included serving in the U.S. Navy in 1985-88. He was honorably discharged with the rank of lieutenant.

Assistant Attorneys General Tasha West and Nicole Burke prosecuted the Medicaid fraud case.