The United States Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Texas said this week that a neurologist in the Houston region had agreed to pay about $1 million to “resolve allegations” that he had filed fraudulent Medicare claims for medical treatments.
Pearland neurologist Dr. Basem Hamid was charged with defrauding Medicare for the surgical placement of neurostimulator electrodes between 2019 and 2022. The U.S. Attorney’s Office claims that Medicare paid out thousands of dollars each procedure as a result of this.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Hamid and his team chose a less intrusive method over the surgical treatments. Authorities claim that Hamid accepted the $948,359.85 settlement to end the accusations and that no responsibility has been established.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani said, “People with chronic pain trust qualified medical professionals to help them find relief and improve their quality of life.” “Our federal health care system entrusts providers with the medical care of our country’s most vulnerable, and it is important for healthcare providers to give accurate information about the services they provide for reimbursement not misrepresent those services in an attempt to increase their bottom line.”
A voicemail requesting comment was left at Hamid’s Houston office on Wednesday, but he did not immediately reply.
Patients claimed that the alternative method involved inserting monofilament wire into their ears using electro-acupuncture. Additionally, the neurostimulator was purportedly adhered behind the ear.
Many patients reported that the adhesive broke loose and flaked off after a few days, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In a statement, Department of Health and Human Services Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows emphasized that abuse of the Medicare system is unacceptable.
“When health care professionals submit false claims to federal health care programs like Medicare, they erode public trust and divert taxpayer-funded resources away from those who truly need them,” he stated. “According to the accusations, Dr. Hamid deceived some of our most vulnerable residents in addition to abusing Medicare for his own financial benefit. Our law enforcement partners and my office are unwavering in our resolve to safeguard the integrity of federal health care programs.
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