April Rose Ambrosio, a dentist in Mira Mesa, California, fraudulently billed eight insurance companies $592,550 claiming she performed 623 root canals on 75 patients, according to the California Department of Insurance.
Ambrosio, who was arraigned in San Diego Superior Court on 75 counts of insurance fraud on June 10, ultimately received more than $200,000. Her deception involved billing for more than 100 root canals over a three-month period for a family of four.
“This is a case of repeated and flagrant fraud by a medical professional,” said San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan. “Unfortunately, when scan artists bill for dental services not rendered, they get rich at the expense of honest consumers who ultimately pay the price through higher premiums.”
The Department of Insurance spent two years investigating the case and worked closely with the District Attorney’s Fraud Division to bring Ambrosio to justice, the department reports. Investigators say she was running the billing scam for three years.
“Medical providers are held to the highest standard, and their patients trust them to be honest when it comes to their care,” said insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara. “Ambrosio violated that trust when she fraudulently billed for services she never performed.”
If convicted of all charges, Ambrosio faces up to 83 years in prison. She next will be in court on September 5.
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