Amarillo dentist gets prison for health care fraud

April 10, 2013

A Texas dentist has been sentenced to more than four years in prison and must repay $1.8 million in a Medicaid scam.

AMARILLO, Texas (AP) — A Texas dentist has been sentenced to more than four years in prison and must repay $1.8 million in a Medicaid scam.

A federal judge in Amarillo on Tuesday sentenced Dr. Michael David Goodwin, who also practiced in Crown Point, Ind. The 63-year-old Amarillo orthodontist in December pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud.

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Investigators say Goodwin billed Texas Medicaid for more services than provided or for unnecessary procedures. The time frame was 2008 through March 2011 and in some cases more than 100 patients were scheduled per day, even when Goodwin was out of town.

Investigators say Goodwin directed his dental assistants to perform work that was only allowed by licensed dentists.

Goodwin must start serving his 50-month prison term in late April.