- By Supratik Das
- Mon, 16 Jun 2025 04:50 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Indian-origin doctor Dr. Mona Ghosh, aged 52, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for running a huge 2.4 million USD healthcare fraud operation. The Chicago OB-GYN specialist fraudulently charged federal healthcare programs and private insurance companies for services that never occurred or were unnecessary, from 2018 to 2022. Prosecutors indicated the scheme not only robbed taxpayers but also risked patients' health and reproductive futures as well.
Dr. Ghosh owned and practiced Progressive Women's Healthcare in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, providing obstetrics and gynecology services. The US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois states that Ghosh made false claims for services like Endometrial ablations, Biopsies, Ultrasounds, Vaccinations, Blood tests, and STD screenings. Federal authorities further found that some treatments were performed without the consent of patients, and medical records were intentionally fabricated to support reimbursement claims. Ghosh took advantage of the US healthcare billing system by assigning higher-paying codes for exaggerating both the duration and complexity of in-person and telemedicine visits. She also directed employees to file fraudulent claims, thus increasing the scope of her crime. "Dr. Ghosh spent decades terrorising patients, defrauding insurers, and swindling taxpayer dollars to bankroll her greed," stated FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Douglas S. DePodesta.
Endangering Women's Health And Fertility
The authorities denounced the scam as especially repulsive because the patients underwent unnecessary procedures that compromised some of them from having children. "When doctors make false claims to federal health programs, they steal resources away from those who need them most," declared US Attorney Andrew S. Boutros. "Dr. Ghosh's scam was a corrupt abuse of trust that caused physical and emotional injury," he added. Dr. Ghosh was guilty of two charges of healthcare fraud in June 2023. On June 9, 2025, US District Judge Franklin U. Valderrama sentenced her to 10 years and ordered her to pay 1.5 million USD in restitution to the insurers and defrauded programs. The case was jointly investigated by the FBI, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Defense.
This case adds to a growing list of healthcare fraud investigations involving Indian-origin professionals in the US. Earlier this month, Tonmoy Sharma, a pharma tycoon of Indian origin, was arrested for an alleged 149 million USD fraud scheme tied to addiction treatment services in California. Federal officials have made a warning call to medical practitioners, emphasising that corrupt acts will face stern punishment, particularly if they pose threats to patient safety and public confidence.