Indian-origin neurosurgeon fined more than $2 million in US for Medicare fraud involving fake surgeries

An Indian-origin neurosurgeon in the US has been fined more than $2 million for falsely claiming to perform surgery, according to attorney Alamdar S Hamdani. Dr. Rajesh Bindal53, from Houston, was charged with fraud Medicare and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).
Bindal, who practiced at the Texas Spine and Neurosurgery Center in 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 taped the devices behind patients’ ears, where they often fell out within days. In some cases, the procedures were performed not by Bindall himself but by a device sales representative or a physician assistant in his clinic rather than in an appropriate surgical setting.
“A neurosurgeon like Dr. Bindal knows the difference between actual surgery and sticking a device behind someone’s ear,” said US Attorney Hamdani. “Despite being one of the highest paid specialists in medicine, he chose personal greed over integrity and patient care.”
“Dr Rajesh Bindal53, will pay $2,095,946 to settle claims he fraudulently billed for neurostimulator electrode implants,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
The investigation was conducted by the US Attorney’s Office, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (DHHS-OIG) and Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General (OPM-OIG). These agencies emphasized 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 to maintaining public trust and protecting critical resources,” said DHHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows.
“False claims come at a cost not only to our federal healthcare programs but also to the members who rely on these programs for needed care,” said OPM-OIG Special Agent in Charge Derek M. Holt.