A 53-year-old Indian-origin neurosurgeon has been fined $20,95,946 (₹17.39 crore) for medicare fraud after falsely claiming to perform surgeries to implant electro-acupuncture devices.

Dr Rajesh Bindal used to work at Texas Spine & Neurosurgery Center. From March 16, 2021, to April 22, 2022, Bindal billed medicare and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) for the surgical implantation of neurostimulator electrodes, as per the US court.

These are invasive procedures usually requiring the use of an operating room. As a result, Medicare and the FEHBP paid thousands of dollars per procedure. 

However, neither Bindal nor his staff performed these surgical procedures, according to the allegations. 

US Attorney Alamdar Hamdani said, “A neurosurgeon, like Bindal, should know when he is and is not performing surgery”. 

“Even though neurosurgeons, according to one study, are the highest-paid physician specialists in the United States, Bindal allegedly submitted false claims to further enrich himself. To maintain the trust of the public in our federal healthcare system, it is imperative that medical professionals, such as neurosurgeons, bill accurately for the services provided. Otherwise, my office may get involved and seek to hold accountable anyone who violates that trust,” Hamdani added.

“This type of fraud not only wastes taxpayer dollars but undermines trust in healthcare providers and critical programs like Medicare. Dr Bindal’s actions deceived both the system and vulnerable patients,” said Jason Meadows, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General.

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