Dentist theft case reveals huge Medicaid fraud

A New York dentist, whose exorbitant claims on the state's Medicaid programme suggested that she treated more than 100 patients an hour, faces prosecution in what looks set to become a major political scandal. Dr Dolly Rosen and an associate face charges of grand theft after her claims in 2003 for reimbursement from Medicaid, which is aimed at helping poor people get access to treatment, suggested that on one day she treated 991 patients. After an intensive investigation, The New York Times asserted yesterday that fraud and abuse of the programme was costing billions of dollars every year.