Holmdel resident facing three counts

Dr. Ping Cai of Holmdel, a dentist with a practice in Hazlet, has been indicted for allegedly submitting false claims totaling $39,000 to the Medicaid program, state Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said Tuesday.

Cai, 49, is charged with second-degree health care claims fraud and two counts of third-degree Medicaid fraud.

The Monmouth County grand jury indictment alleges that between Jan.1, 2007 and Jan.1, 2010, Cai fraudulently billed the Medicaid program for dental service purportedly rendered to Medicaid recipients. It is alleged that Cai submitted fraudulent claims for payment from Medicaid for relining and rebasing of dentures and filling of cavities when those dental services were not rendered.

An investigation by the state Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit determined that, as a result of alleged fraud, Cai was allegedly paid the more than $39,000 by Medicaid for the services that were not rendered.

Deputy Attorney General Linda A. Rinaldi and Det. Ralph Anilo were assigned to the investigation. Rinaldi presented the case to the grand jury.

Second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of $150,000, while the crime of third-degree Medicaid fraud carries a maximum sentence of three years in state prison and a criminal fine of $10,000.

—TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM