-WJLA SCRIPT-

ANCHOR:

A REMARKABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE WAKE OF OUR EXCLUSIVE SMALL SMILES INVESTIGATION OF TWO AREA DENTAL CLINICS. TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT, DORAL, THE COMPANY THAT COORDINATES DENTAL SERVICES FOR 5 MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS IN MARYLAND AND THE DISTRICT, HAS TOLD MEDICAID PATIENTS NOT TO GO TO SMALL SMILES FOR TREATMENT. I-TEAM REPORTER ROBERTA BASKIN IS HERE WITH MORE.

ROBERTA BASKIN:

As a direct result of our I-Team investigation, DRILLING FOR DOLLARS, that aired on Monday, the health insurance providers are now connecting its clients with other dental offices.

STORY:

THERE ARE SOME 15-THOUSAND CHILDREN IN THE LOCAL SMALL SMILES NETWORK WHO COULD BE AFFECTED BY THIS. SMALL SMILES PATIENTS ARE NOW GETTING PHONE CALLS REFERRING THEM TO ALTERNATIVE DENTISTS INT HE AREA WHERE THEY LIVE. 

THE DECISION RESULTED FROM DORAL OFFICIALS SEEING WHAT THE I-TEAM UNCOVERED IN A SMALL SMILES CLINIC IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND LANGLEY PARK MARYLAND. WE ALSO RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT MGMT. PRACTICES OVERALL. 

A LETTER FROM DORAL TO ITS CLIENTS NOTIFYING THEM OF THE SUSPENSION SAYS: 

"An investigative television report regarding a number of Maryland and Washington D.C. dental clinics has raised serious questions about the delivery of quality dental care. The report included highly disturbing images and personal testimony that we believe warranted immediate action."

OUR INVESTIGATION ALSO EXPOSED WHAT APPEARS TO BE A COZY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SMALL SMILES AND THE MEDICAID SYSTEM THAT PAYS THE BILLS WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS. 

Dr. Aldred Williams / Lead Dentist "We've developed rapport with these organizations in that way. We're like their biggest customer. They're dealing with us almost on an exclusive basis so we work it out."

WE ALSO FOUND WHAT APPEARED TO BE A LACK OF GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT OVER THE WAY SMALL SMILES WAS ABLE TO SUBMIT ITS CLAIMS. AS OF NOVEMBER 9, 2007, THE MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUSPENDED THEIR PARTICIPATION WITH SMALL SMILES UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE ARE:

Amerigroup
Coventry Diamond
Maryland Physician's Care
Priority Partners
And MedStar

THAT ACTION EXPANDS ON OUR INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE FOUR SMALL SMILES CLINICS IN MARYLAND AND ONE IN THE DISTRICT. 

ROBERTA BASKIN:

Amerigroup, the largest provider in Maryland with 147-thousand members also has members in Ohio and Georgia. It plans to investigate treatment practices at the Small Smiles clinics in those states, too.
Another managed care organization suspending Small Smiles from its network of dental providers is United Health Care.

And late today, Small Smiles said it will continue to care for the patients effected..for free.

We'll continue to report on new developments and hope viewers will continue to give us feedback.