Federal Lawsuit Alleged Medicare Fraud by Texas Doctor
The U.S. government filed a lawsuit on September 4, 2026, alleging Dr. Michael Neret billed for unperformed procedures.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Financial Crime
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On September 4, 2026, the federal government filed a lawsuit against Dr. Michael Neret for alleged Medicare fraud. The suit claims that the doctor fraudulently billed nearly $500,000 for neurostimulator electrode implantations that were never performed.
Why it matters
Prosecutors allege the procedures were used as a pretext to justify prescribing narcotics to patients. The case was filed under the False Claims Act in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
The government filed the lawsuit under the False Claims Act in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. The investigation centers on billings for surgical procedures that allegedly did not occur.
The players
Dr. Michael Neret
He is the owner and manager of the Neret MD Medical Clinic with practices in Bay City and Lake Jackson.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
This is the federal judicial body where the government filed the civil lawsuit under the False Claims Act.
The details
The lawsuit alleges that Dr. Michael Neret, who owns the Neret MD Medical Clinic in Bay City and Lake Jackson, oversaw a scheme where nonclinical staff performed brief office sessions with electro-acupuncture devices. Staff reportedly inserted electrode wires into patients and secured them with adhesive rather than performing the surgical procedures billed to Medicare.
Timeline
September 4, 2026: The federal government filed the lawsuit against Dr. Neret.
Legal Context
The lawsuit was filed under the federal False Claims Act, which remains the primary tool for the government to recover funds lost to healthcare fraud. This action reflects broader federal efforts to crack down on providers who bill for services never rendered.
Patients who visited the Neret MD Medical Clinic for pain management may be impacted by the ongoing scrutiny of the practice. The lawsuit highlights the government's focus on auditing local clinics to prevent the misuse of federal healthcare funds.
The takeaway
This case highlights the importance of patients verifying the specific medical procedures billed to their Medicare accounts. Patients should remain vigilant in reviewing their medical statements to ensure services billed match the actual care provided during office visits.
Further reading
For more on enforcement actions regarding medical billing, visit the Financial Crime section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Victoria Advocate.
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