HOUSTON — Dr. Rajesh Bindal, a 53-year-old neurosurgeon from Sugar Land, has agreed to pay $2,095,946 to settle allegations that he submitted false claims to federal health care programs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.
From March 2021 to April 2022, Bindal allegedly billed Medicare and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) for the surgical implantation of neurostimulator electrodes. Federal officials allege that instead of performing the complex surgical procedures, Bindal and his staff merely placed electro-acupuncture devices on patients’ ears using adhesive tape, a procedure that falls far short of the invasive surgeries billed.
According to the claims, all device placements were performed in Bindal’s clinic by physician assistants or device sales representatives, and no incisions were made. Patients reported the devices frequently fell off within days, underscoring the lack of surgical intervention.
“A neurosurgeon, like Bindal, should know when he is and is not performing surgery,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. “To maintain the trust of the public in our federal health care system, it is imperative that medical professionals bill accurately for the services provided.”
The case was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General. Both agencies emphasized the importance of protecting federal health care programs from fraud, citing the harm to vulnerable patients and taxpayers.
Dr. Bindal’s settlement highlights ongoing efforts to combat health care fraud and uphold the integrity of federal health care programs.
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