Physician faces pending FCA complaint over neurostimulator billing
Oct 4, 2026 edition · GC-2026-0174 · Published 2026-10-04 · Version 2 · Pending litigation
A pending FCA suit alleges Michael Neret billed nearly $500,000 for surgical neurostimulator implants while staff instead applied inexpensive electro-acupuncture devices in office sessions.
What happened
DOJ announced September 29, 2026 a False Claims Act lawsuit alleging that Bay City physician Michael Neret fraudulently billed Medicare nearly $500,000 for surgical neurostimulator electrode implantations. Neret owns and manages Neret MD Medical Clinic. The complaint is a pending civil matter; the release expressly states that its claims are allegations and liability has not been determined. It should be classified as a civil complaint rather than a judgment.
The alleged mismatch concerns procedures billed as complex surgery requiring an operating room versus brief in-office sessions using inexpensive electro-acupuncture devices. According to the complaint, nonphysician practitioners and nonclinical staff inserted small wires into the skin and secured devices behind patients' ears. DOJ also alleges Neret knew the devices were not billable and used the procedures to justify narcotic prescribing. These details support comparison of codes, actual devices, setting, personnel and clinical documentation. They do not establish that the physician has been convicted or that every neurostimulator procedure is improper.
Scope and timing
- Authority status
- Pending litigation
- Applicability
- Operationally relevant
- Audience
- Health systems, Provider networks
- Jurisdiction
- Federal
Why it matters
Procedure names and billed codes must match the actual device, clinical work and setting; superficial descriptions can conceal a materially different service.
Recommended action
Sample relevant procedure claims against device records, clinical notes, personnel and place-of-service evidence. Escalate unsupported surgical coding and review any linked prescribing rationale with clinical leadership.
Case details
- agencies
- U.S. Department of Justice
- entities
- Michael Neret, Neret MD Medical Clinic
- action Type
- Civil complaint
- event Date
- 2026-09-29
- alleged Conduct
- DOJ alleges nearly $500,000 in Medicare billing for surgical neurostimulator electrode implantations. The complaint remains pending; liability has not been determined.
- resolution
- Charges or complaint pending; no determination of guilt or liability.
Operational lessons
- Compare procedure codes with clinical records, devices and place-of-service evidence; escalate unsupported surgical billing.
Sources
- Physician faces pending FCA complaint over neurostimulator billingOfficial · HHS OIG, official enforcement announcement · 2026-09-29 · Source review 2026-10-04
- Official retained source documentOfficial · Official issuing agency · 2026-09-29 · Source review 2026-10-16
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