Indy dentist accused of $260,000 in false claims

An Indianapolis dentist has been charged with falsely filing nearly $262,000 in claims from the Indiana Medicaid program for treatments that were never performed.

Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry said Dr. Bernice Avant was charged Thursday with one count of Medicaid fraud and four counts of theft.

Avant could not be reached for comment Thursday by The Associated Press because no one answered the phone at Avant's Oakbrook Dental Center and no message could be left because the message box was full.

The center is located at 4857 Oakbrook Drive, near Georgetown Road and 59th Street.

According to a probable cause affidavit, from 2010 to 2013, Avant submitted falsified Medicaid forms to the Indiana Medicaid Program and obtained $261,909.52 in payments.

Twelve patients told investigators that procedures ranging from X-rays to teeth extractions listed as completed on Medicaid billing forms were never performed.