Nelson Hardiman Overturns Medi-Cal Exclusion and Suspension of Dentist

Nelson Hardiman associate Aaron Lachant successfully represented a dentist in Southern California who had been suspended from participating in the Denti-Cal program by the Department of Health Care Services.  The suspension was based on a supposed conviction relating to the delivery of dental services payable by the Denti-Cal program; however, no such conviction actually existed.

Nelson Hardiman vigorously challenged the basis for the suspension, arguing that the Department had no statutory authority to suspend the dentist.  Ultimately, the Department agreed and rescinded its suspension.  This is an important victory for the dentist because, under a new Federal law in the Affordable Care Act, the suspension in California could have led to additional suspensions in other states.