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Indian American neurosurgeon fined $2 million for false claims
Jason E. Meadows, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (DHHS-OIG), remarked, “Dr. Bindal not only submitted false claims to Medicare but also deceived our most vulnerable population.”
Representative image / Image- Unsplash
An Indian American neurosurgeon has agreed to pay $2,095,946 to settle allegations of submitting false claims for surgical procedures, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.
Sugarland-based Dr. Rajesh Bindal, operating under the Texas Spine and Neurosurgery Center allegedly billed Medicare and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) between March 2021 and April 2022 for the surgical implantation of neurostimulator electrodes, which are invasive procedures typically performed in operating rooms. These procedures command significant reimbursements due to their complexity.
However, according to federal investigators, neither Bindal nor his staff performed such surgeries. Instead, patients reportedly received devices used for electro-acupuncture, involving the insertion of monofilament wires into the ear and securing them with adhesive tape.
These procedures, far less invasive, were conducted in Bindal's clinic rather than a surgical facility and did not involve incisions. In some cases, the devices were placed by a sales representative or a physician assistant rather than by Bindal himself.
“A neurosurgeon, like Bindal, should know when he is and is not performing surgery,” stated U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. “Even though neurosurgeons are among the highest-paid specialists, Bindal allegedly submitted false claims to enrich himself further. Maintaining public trust in our federal healthcare system is critical, and my office will hold accountable anyone who violates that trust.”
Federal agencies emphasized the importance of integrity in healthcare billing. Jason E. Meadows, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (DHHS-OIG), remarked, “Dr. Bindal not only submitted false claims to Medicare but also deceived our most vulnerable population.”
Derek M. Holt, special agent in charge of the office of personnel management office of inspector general (OPM-OIG), highlighted the broader implications, noting, “False claims come at a cost not only to our federal health care programs but also to the members who rely on these programs for necessary care.”
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