Houston Doctor Agrees to Pay $2.05 Million for False Claims to Federally Funded Health Care Programs

Strategic Insights -

A 63-year-old Houston man, Dr. Ajay Aggarwal, an anesthesiologist and pain medicine doctor, has agreed to pay $2,053,515 to resolve allegations he submitted false claims to federally funded health care programs for the surgical implantation of neurostimulator electrodes. The investigation found that from November 16, 2021, to March 28, 2023, Aggarwal billed Medicare and the Department of Labor's Workers' Compensation Programs for invasive procedures that were not performed. Instead, patients received devices used for electro-acupuncture, which involved inserting monofilament wire a few millimeters into their ears and taping the neurostimulator behind the ear with an adhesive. The procedures were conducted in Aggarwal's clinic, not a hospital or surgical center, and no incision was made on a patient. The U.S. Attorney's Office conducted the investigation with assistance from OIG offices of USPS, DOL, and DHHS.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dr. Ajay Aggarwal, a Houston-based anesthesiologist and pain medicine doctor, has agreed to pay $2,053,515 to resolve allegations of false claims to federally funded health care programs.
  • Aggarwal billed Medicare and the Department of Labor's Workers' Compensation Programs for surgical implantation of neurostimulator electrodes between November 16, 2021, and March 28, 2023.
  • The investigation found that Aggarwal did not perform the surgical procedures, but instead used devices for electro-acupuncture on patients.
  • Aggarwal's clinic conducted the procedures, not a hospital or surgical center, and no incision was made on a patient.
  • The U.S. Attorney's Office conducted the investigation with assistance from OIG offices of USPS, DOL, and DHHS.
  • Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura E. Collins handled the matter.
  • Special Agents in Charge Jonathan Ulrich, Casey Howard, and Jason E. Meadows of USPS-OIG, USPS-Office of Inspector General, and DHHS-OIG respectively, issued statements highlighting the importance of protecting federal benefit programs from fraud.

Statistics:

  • $2,053,515: The amount agreed to be paid by Dr. Ajay Aggarwal to resolve allegations of false claims to federally funded health care programs.
  • 2 years 4 months: The duration of the alleged fraudulent activities from November 16, 2021, to March 28, 2023.
  • 1,000s: The number of dollars paid by Medicare and other federally funded health care programs per procedure.

Sources:

  • United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG)
  • U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)
  • Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General (DHHS-OIG)