Health Care Fraud Results in Prison Sentencing for Metro East Dentist

Defrauding Illinois Medicaid out of hundreds of thousands of dollars over a period of several years’ lands a St. Louis-area dentist imprisonment sentencing. 49-year-old Dr. Yun Sup Kim of St. Louis appeared this morning via videoconference at the federal courthouse in Benton, Illinois. He was sentencing to 12 months and one day in federal prison.

In February, Kim pleaded guilty to three counts of health care fraud. A regulatory audit case initiated in 2015 raised the case against Kim. The claims data showed that Kim had performed more cavity fillings and surgical tooth extractions than nearly any other dentist in Illinois. It was discovered by investigators that from August 2014 through December 2017, Kim had repeatedly submitted false bills for cavity fillings and surgical tooth extractions.

Court records show over 1,300 patients that Kim falsely claimed to have performed eight or more cavity fillings in a single day. Kim conceded in court that he did not actually numb, drill, and fill cavities in those teeth. Kim also admitted that he falsified billed surgical extractions instead of simple extractions. The surgical extractions are much more expensive than the simple ones.

Kim also confessed he had falsified dates of service on numerous occasions to evade Medicaid billing rules for dental sealants. As part of his plea agreement with the United States, Kim agreed to the entry of a consent decree revoking his license to practice dentistry in Illinois. Restitution to Illinois Medicaid and Medicaid managed organizations are also included in Kim’s sentence.

The amount is of $671,845.20, which Kim has already paid in full. Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, and the   FBI conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan D. Stump.