Lucio Vasquez / Houston Public Media
A Houston-area neurologist this week agreed to pay almost $1 million to “resolve allegations” that he had submitted false Medicare claims for medical procedures, in keeping with the USA Legal professional’s Workplace of the Southern District of Texas.
Dr. Basem Hamid, a neurologist from Pearland, was accused of billing Medicare for the surgical implantation of neurostimulator electrodes from 2019 to 2022. This allegedly resulted in hundreds of {dollars} per process being paid out by Medicare, in keeping with the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace.
The U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace alleges that Hamid and his employees by no means carried out the surgical procedures, as a substitute choosing a less-invasive process. Hamid agreed to the $948,359.85 settlement to resolve the allegations, and there was no dedication of legal responsibility, in keeping with authorities.
“People affected by continual ache put their religion in expert medical professionals to assist them discover reduction and enhance their high quality of life,” U.S. Legal professional Alamdar S. Hamdani stated in an announcement. “Our federal well being care system entrusts suppliers with the medical care of our nation’s most susceptible, and it’s important for healthcare suppliers to offer correct details about the providers they supply for reimbursement – not misrepresent these providers in an try to extend their backside line.”
Hamid didn’t instantly reply to a voicemail searching for remark that was left at his Houston workplace Wednesday.
In keeping with allegations made by sufferers, the choice process used electro-acupuncture to insert monofilament wire into sufferers’ ears. The neurostimulator was additionally allegedly positioned behind the ear with adhesive.
The U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace stated that many sufferers claimed the adhesive got here unfastened and fell off inside a matter of days.
Particular Agent in Cost Jason E. Meadows of the Division of Well being and Human Companies stated in an announcement that exploitation of the Medicare system can’t be tolerated.
“When well being care professionals submit false claims to federal well being care packages like Medicare, they erode public belief and divert taxpayer-funded assets away from those that really want them,” he stated. “Dr. Hamid not solely exploited Medicare for private monetary achieve but in addition misled a few of our most susceptible residents, in keeping with the allegations. (My workplace) and our regulation enforcement companions stay steadfast in our dedication to defending the integrity of federal well being care packages.”
