New Delhi / Atlanta: Indian-origin doctor Dr. Jitendra Patel, along with his Atlanta-based clinic Advanced Urology, has agreed to a settlement of approximately ₹161 crore (USD 14 million) to resolve allegations of healthcare fraud. The claims stated that the clinic billed Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and other federal programs for procedures that were either unnecessary or not performed.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) stated on April 2 that this settlement resolves claims under the False Claims Act and the Georgia False Medicaid Claims Act. The investigation, involving multiple agencies including the FBI, began after lawsuits were filed by two whistle-blowers.
Whistle-Blowers Expose Systematic Malpractice
Former employee Lorraine Perumal-Szramel and former physician Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal alleged in court that the clinic prioritized profit over patient care. They claimed that nearly every new patient underwent invasive tests, often without clear medical justification.
The complaints included:
- Implantation of sacral nerve stimulators without proper evaluation.
- Frequent use of cystoscopies and retrograde pyelograms, which are unusual in standard urology care.
- Routine electromyography tests conducted via electrodes attached to patients’ genital areas.
- Excessive and unnecessary ultrasound orders.
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Billing Irregularities and Settlement Details
The lawsuit also claimed that the clinic billed for complex procedures such as Direct Visual Internal Urethrotomy, even when simpler treatments were performed—a practice known as “upcoding.” Reports by FOX 5 Atlanta corroborated these allegations, noting that surgeries were sometimes billed without being performed.
Authorities noted that it remains unclear whether patients suffered long-term harm, but emphasized the seriousness of the violations. U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said, “Billing for unnecessary or unperformed services constitutes fraud.” Georgia Deputy Attorney General Jim Mooney called it a theft of taxpayer funds. FBI officials stated that the scheme prioritized profit over patient welfare. Under the settlement, the whistle-blowers will share ₹33.8 crore (USD 2.94 million).
Experts warned that patients should make healthcare and investment decisions only through recognized and official platforms. “Systematic fraud often occurs when processes lack transparency. Patients should carefully review doctors’ and clinics’ records,” said cybersecurity and healthcare safety specialists.
