A Napa, Calif., dentist must pay a $7,500 fine and provide refunds to 14 Minnesota patients after he improperly billed them, according to a Minnesota Board of Dentistry order made public this week.
David R. Dunphy, who has a license to practice in Minnesota, overbilled the patients a total of $34,731 in 2008 and 2009, despite receiving payments from the patients' insurer, Delta Dental of Minnesota, the order said.
In a practice called "balance billing," he charged as much as $7,814 directly to patients though his contract with Delta Dental required that he write off the difference between his service fee and the insurer's payment, according to the board.
Dunphy agreed to provide refunds and report back to the board.
JANE FRIEDMANN
