Michigan Attorney General Charges Dentist With 131 Counts of Medicaid Fraud in Dental Crown Scheme

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced charges against Dr. Faddi S. Salim, a Macomb County dentist, in what prosecutors describe as a massive Medicaid fraud scheme involving unnecessary or nonexistent dental crowns.

Salim faces one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, a 20-year felony, and 131 counts of Medicaid fraud, each punishable by up to four years in prison and fines of up to $50,000.

The charges stem from allegations that Salim repeatedly billed the taxpayer-funded Medicaid program for large numbers of dental crowns that were either unnecessary or never provided. Prosecutors say the dentist exhausted patients' annual Medicaid benefits by submitting claims for excessive numbers of crowns.

Patients Left Without Coverage

Several patients who had many crowns billed under their benefits were notified that they were not covered for needed procedures because their benefits had already been used up.

"Flagrant abuse of the Medicaid program diverts critical funds from patients in need," Nessel said. "My office remains committed to investigating and prosecuting those responsible for fraudulent schemes."

Salim, 37, of Troy, was arraigned on March 19 in East Lansing and granted a $50,000 personal recognizance bond. He is scheduled to appear in court again on May 1.

The case is being handled by the attorney general's Health Care Fraud Division, which serves as Michigan's federally certified Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and is primarily funded through federal grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Broader Concerns About Public Assistance Oversight

The charges come as state lawmakers raise broader concerns about fraud, errors, and oversight across Michigan's public assistance systems, which collectively serve millions of residents and account for billions in spending.

A recent report from the Michigan House Oversight Subcommittee on State and Local Assistance Programs found weaknesses in how the state administers benefits, including Medicaid, food assistance, and cash aid programs.

The system, known as MiBridges, manages a range of programs beyond Medicaid, including:

• The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
• The Family Independence Program
• Women, Infants and Children benefits
• Child care assistance
• State emergency relief

Subcommittee Chair Jason Woolford said the investigation focused on whether those programs are effectively protecting taxpayer dollars.

"Oversight in government is a critical check for the people, because it ensures they are well-served by transparent and efficient government services," Woolford said. "We need to root out any waste, fraud and abuse in these systems to help benefits get to those who truly need them."

The report found the application process relies heavily on self-attestation and back-end verification, with minimal upfront documentation required to apply for benefits.

"The problem is not just fraud, it is also systemic error," the report stated.

Proposed Reforms

Lawmakers have proposed a series of reforms to address these issues, including:

• Requiring more upfront verification from applicants
• Adding chip-enabled Bridge cards
• Implementing photo identification requirements
• Expanding interstate data-sharing to prevent duplicate benefits

The case highlights ongoing efforts to strengthen oversight of Michigan's public assistance programs and ensure taxpayer dollars reach those who truly need them.

Nessel's office is encouraging any former patients of Salim who suspect they may have been billed for crowns or other dental work that was not provided to call 1-800-24-ABUSE.