A local anesthesiologist was ordered to pay $1.2 million to settle allegations his Santa Clarita pain clinic fraudulently billed state and federal health insurance programs.
Dr. Narinder S. Grewal, of Chatsworth, who operates the Santa Clarita Surgery Center for Advanced Pain Management on the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital campus in Valencia, agreed to pay $1,087,176.09 to the federal government and $112,823.91 to the state.
The settlement concludes a federal “whistleblower” lawsuit filed by Chandana Basu, who used to provide billing and collection services to the Grewal’s clinic, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Basu’s lawsuit alleged that Grewal and his clinic obtained improper reimbursements from government-run health insurance programs, including Medicare, Medi-Cal and Tricare, a federal health insurance program for military and related military personnel, according to a statement Wednesday from federal prosecutors.
The lawsuit also alleged that Grewal and his clinic submitted fraudulent claims by “upcoding” medical services, which means that he allegedly submitted bills that were not justified by the services that were actually provided.
The settlement was announced Wednesday after United States District Judge Andrew J. Guilford unsealed the lawsuit.
The parties have asked the court to dismiss the suit, which was filed pursuant to federal and state False Claims Acts.
The whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Acts permit a private person to sue on behalf of the United States and California, and to share in the proceeds of the suit.
As a result of the settlement announced today, Basu will receive a total of $204,000.
The case was handled by the United States Attorney’s Office and the California Attorney General’s Office, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
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14 Comments
Roger La Prairie look!!
And how about when he injected me and I have permanent damage!!
My insurance carrier would not pay for me to see him…because of questionable practices. Wow.
Ouch!
crazyyy
We used to have outrageous bills for my husband years ago and insurance questioned it. When I went to him for convenience for my epidurals I made sure I authorized every charge before I did anything!
Monique DiGirolamo Barton
I use to see him after I got out of Henry Mayo for my spine injury. He did very little for me but tried to send me bills when I had Medi-cal.
Cecile Laranang Carpio
Saber Patrus
Dr. Narinder Grewal is a Crook. He is a worst Dr. I have ever seen. He over charge my insurance and in return I feel worse seeing him. He is not a ettical guy.
Dr. Narinder Grewal is a crook. He is a worst Dr. I have ever seen and does not care about his paitents. He over charge my insurance and when I called him, he denied it.
This Dr. needs to be investigated more. I am sure he and his clinic have broken more laws. Not a nice person.
Dr. Narinder Grewal is the most conniving Dr. ive ever met. He’s more interested in making money than taking care of his patients.