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An Indian-origin neurosurgeon in US has been fined over $2 million for falsely claiming to perform surgeries, according to attorney Alamdar S Hamdani. Dr Rajesh Bindal, 53, from Houston, was accused of defrauding Medicare and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).
Bindal, who practiced at the Texas Spine & Neurosurgery Center PA, fraudulently billed for complex surgical procedures to implant electro-acupuncture devices between March 16, 2021, and April 22, 2022, according to the US attorney’s office. The office alleged that Bindal simply taped the devices behind patients’ ears, where they often fell off within days. In some cases, the procedures were performed not by Bindal himself but by a device sales representative or a physician assistant at his clinic, rather than in a proper surgical setting.
“A neurosurgeon like Dr Bindal knows the difference between real surgery and sticking a device behind someone’s ear,” said US attorney Hamdani. “Despite being among the highest-paid specialists in medicine, he chose personal greed over integrity and patient care.”
“Dr Rajesh Bindal, 53, will pay $2,095,946 to resolve claims he fraudulently billed for neurostimulator electrode implants,” said the US Attorney’s Office.
The investigation was conducted by the US attorney’s office, the department of health and human services office of inspector general (DHHS-OIG), and the office of personnel management office of inspector general (OPM-OIG). These agencies stressed the importance of accountability in federal healthcare programs and protecting beneficiaries from fraudulent practices.
“Ensuring that healthcare professionals are held accountable for submitting false claims to Medicare is essential for preserving public trust and safeguarding critical resources,” said Jason E Meadows, DHHS-OIG special agent in charge.
“False claims come at a cost not only to our federal healthcare programs but also to the members who rely on these programs for necessary care,” said Derek M Holt, OPM-OIG special agent in charge.