Indian-Origin Doctor Convicted In US Healthcare Fraud

48-year-old Indian-origin anesthesiologist Dr. Neil K. Anand, who was once hailed as the 9/11 hero providing healthcare to first responders at Ground Zero during the terror attack, has been convicted by a US federal court on charges of committing healthcare fraud. Anand is scheduled to be sentenced on August 19 and faces a maximum penalty of 130 years in prison.

Neil K. Anand, a resident of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, allegedly gave unnecessary prescription medications to his patients and unlawfully distributed controlled substances. He is accused of submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare and health plans offered by the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Independence Blue Cross (IBC), and Anthem for Goody Bags of unnecessary medications. The Department of Justice stated that these medications were delivered to the patients by in-house pharmacies owned by Anand.

Medicare, OPM, IBC, and Anthem reportedly purchased over $2.3 million worth of goody bags from Anand’s pharmacies. In addition, Anand is also found guilty of distributing oxycodone without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course. Anand allegedly pre-signed blank prescriptions, which were later used by unlicensed medical interns who wrote illegitimate prescriptions for controlled substances. As part of the crime, Anand allegedly prescribed 20,850 medically unnecessary oxycodone tablets for 9 patients.

Anand reportedly transferred the proceeds of his $1.2 million fraud into his father’s account and for the benefit of his minor daughter. Anand was convicted of three counts of health care fraud, one count of money laundering, four counts of unlawful monetary transactions; and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

Incidentally, in a first-of-its-kind case in March 2025, Anand battled against the American government, alleging that the government was using artificial intelligence and manipulated data to prosecute him for treating chronic pain patients. His case received support from various acclaimed healthcare professionals across the United States.