FALL RIVER, Mass., Jan. 24 (UPI) -- A former Massachusetts dentist has pleaded guilty to a long string of charges, including Medicaid fraud and assaulting patients with his incompetent practices.
Michael Clair is scheduled to be sentenced Monday, The Herald-News of Fall River, Mass., reported.
Clair was licensed to practice dentistry in Massachusetts between 2003 and 2005 but was banned from doing Medicaid work. Investigators said he used other dentists to bill Medicaid.
In his guilty plea, Clair admitted that while he was operating Harbour dental at the New Harbour Mall in Fall River, he was so sloppy that he used paper clips instead of steel posts in root canal work. He also admitted prescribing painkillers like Percocet for his employees on condition they kick back some of the drugs.
Clair, 53, of New Crofton, Md., has had his dental licenses revoked in Maryland, West Virginia and Florida. He said his Massachusetts license has expired.
The Massachusetts investigation began when MassHealth, which administers the state's Medicaid program, reported problems with Clair's work.
