Dr. Aram Agadjanian, also known as Aram Yuri Agadzanov, will pay more than $1.7 million for engaging in a long-term, pervasive scheme to defraud Connecticut’s Medicaid program.
From May 2014 to May 2015, Agadjanian knowingly presented numerous claims for payment for dental work that was never provided to state Medicaid patients. He also knew that these claims were false or fraudulent. He created false records material for the claims. And, he did all this to obtain payment.
Connecticut’s Superior Court ordered Agadjanian to pay treble damages along with a civil penalty of $1.5 million. The court assessed these penalties at the maximum of the penalty range because Agadjanian failed to provide essential dental services that the victims were entitled to, because his conduct was persistent and egregious, and because he failed to accept responsibility for his wrongdoing.
“Dr. Agadjanian engaged in an illegal scheme to defraud state and federal healthcare programs by preying on some of Connecticut’s most vulnerable citizens. Together with the Department of Social Services, we took action to protect Connecticut patients and taxpayers,” said state Attorney General William Tong.
“This favorable ruling in the Office of the Attorney General’s first ever trial under the Connecticut False Claims Act sends a clear message that bad actors who victimize our Medicaid members will be held accountable,” said Tong.
“This is a particularly disturbing example of an individual found to have violated the trust of his patients and our public health coverage program,” said state Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Deidre S. Gifford.
“While not representing Medicaid or our providers as a whole, this case does point out the need for constant vigilance on behalf of our patients and taxpayers. I thank the Attorney General and his staff, our federal partners, the Vernon Police Department, and DSS Quality Assurance investigators for their outstanding work,” said Gifford.
Agadjanian was enrolled as a dental provider in the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (CMAP), which includes the state’s Medicaid program, from May 2009 to May 2015. The state DSS, which is the administering agency for CMAP, terminated Agadjanian’s provider agreement.
Tong thanked the DSS Office of Quality Assurance, the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General Office of Investigations, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, and the Vernon Police Department, which referred the matter to the Attorney General, for their assistance and coordination in this case.
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