Sir. Battle Creek doctor convicted of health care fraud, ordered to repay $1.97 million

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A former Battle Creek doctor was sentenced to five years in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for performing sinus surgeries that were not necessary.

Dr. Daniel Castro was also ordered to repay $1.97 million to former patients, health insurers, Medicare, Medicaid and Bronson Hospital, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan (DOJ ).

We're told Dr. Castro pleaded guilty in April of last year to falsifying health claims, admitting to defrauding health programs between February 2015 and May 2017.

The DOJ claims that Dr. Castro made false recordings of patients' symptoms and what appeared on their CT scans. He also sent bills to insurance agencies for lymph node surgeries and other complex cancer-related procedures.

“The criminal activities of Dr. Daniel Castro – who performs unnecessary sinus surgeries – are sickening,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Dr. Castro brazenly flouted the fundamental promise of the Hippocratic Oath – to act in the best interest of the patient – ​​and did so for his own financial gain. Our healthcare system depends on patients' ability to trust their medical providers every step of the way, especially when they decide to go under the knife. I am grateful to the vast majority of providers who keep their promise, and we will do our best to weed out criminals like Dr. Castro who lie and steal for their own benefit.

Dr. Castro has since repaid $1 million to the victims, according to the DOJ.

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