ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Two schools say they’re missing hundreds of thousands of dollars for their teachers’ dental fund and now a former business owner says he’s missing money too. They both point to the same health care middle man.
Langston McFadden, a lawyer for the founder of Health Economics Group, says his client sold the company to Health Economics Partners and its owner Zacchary Weber two years ago. Health Economics Group is now suing Health Economics Partners for not paying half of the $300,000 sale price.
Langston McFadden, Pullano & Farrow Law: “He made the first payment and has since gone radio silent and has not made any other payments since.”
Berkeley Brean, News10NBC: “What do you think happened to the money?”
Langston McFadden: “We are not sure.”
McFadden says his client is currently out several hundred thousand dollars on the total purchase price.
This story started in September when two dental offices said they had not been paid. Their patients were teachers at Sodus and North Rose-Wolcott school districts in Wayne County. The schools sued Health Economics Partners saying money was transferred from their claim funds without the approval of the school districts. The lawsuits say North Rose-Wolcott is missing at least $163,000 and Sodus is missing more than $400,000. The dental offices were out of money too.
Amber Hoertz, Bay Ridge Dental, Webster: “If we don’t include what insurance would pay, we’re out about $20,000.”
Jessica Poltorak, Demarree Dental, Sodus: “Oh God, over $30,000.”
Berkeley Brean: “Over $30,000.”
Jessica Poltorak: “Yeah.”
“There was a level of trust put into HEP, Health Economics Partners and Mr. Weber and that trust has been breached,” said McFadden.
The total amount of money the lawsuits say is missing or unpaid adds up to $713,000.
News10NBC has not been able to reach Zacchary Weber, the owner of Health Economics Partners. The office is closed with the lights off and door locked, just like it was last month when News10NBC went there. Weber does not have a lawyer assigned to him in these lawsuits. Phone calls to the office were never returned.
Teachers in Sodus and North-Rose Wolcott can still go to the dentist. One of the dentists makes them pay upfront and then get reimbursed by the school. The other just bills the school. But the lawsuits say the money they already paid into the funds to do that is missing.
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