Chicago Area Doctor Mona Ghosh Sentenced to Ten Years for Massive Health Care Fraud and Patient Exploitation

A Shocking Breach of Trust in Suburban Chicago

In one of the most disturbing cases of medical fraud in recent years, Dr. Mona Ghosh, a physician from Inverness, Illinois, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for orchestrating a wide-ranging health care fraud scheme that endangered patients and defrauded multiple insurance programs, including Medicaid and TRICARE.

Dr. Ghosh, 52, owned and operated Progressive Women’s Healthcare, S.C., a clinic in Hoffman Estates specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. From 2018 through 2022, she manipulated billing systems to claim millions of dollars for procedures that were medically unnecessary or never performed at all.

Fraudulent Claims and Unnecessary Procedures

According to federal authorities, Ghosh submitted false claims for a variety of services, including:

Endometrial ablations and biopsies

Ultrasounds and lab tests

STD screenings and vaccinations

Many of these procedures were either not needed or carried out without proper patient consent. Some patients later learned they had undergone treatments that could impact their reproductive future—an outcome that has left several women emotionally and physically scarred.

Ghosh also exaggerated the complexity and duration of visits—both in-office and virtual—using inflated billing codes to secure higher reimbursements from insurers.

Fabricated Records and Manipulated Data

In an effort to cover her tracks, Ghosh falsified medical records to justify the claims she submitted. Investigators uncovered a consistent pattern of deceit, including the creation of fraudulent patient histories to match nonexistent procedures. These records were used to manipulate both government and private insurers over the span of four years.

The Legal Outcome

Ghosh pleaded guilty to two counts of health care fraud. U.S. District Judge Franklin U. Valderrama imposed a sentence of ten years in federal prison and ordered her to pay approximately $1.5 million in restitution to the affected programs.

Federal investigators from the FBI, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, and the Illinois Attorney General’s office all played critical roles in uncovering the scheme and bringing Ghosh to justice.

Devastation and Betrayal for Patients

Authorities emphasized the severity of the harm Ghosh inflicted, not just financially, but emotionally and physically. U.S. prosecutors highlighted that her greed-driven actions put women’s health and futures at risk, violating the very oath doctors swear to uphold.

“She endangered the health of her patients by performing unnecessary medical procedures,” prosecutors stated. “Many of these procedures severely limited some patients’ ability to have children in the future.”

A Message to the Medical Community

Officials from multiple federal agencies issued strong warnings following the sentencing, underscoring their commitment to rooting out healthcare fraud:

FBI representatives condemned the “depraved conduct” and betrayal of trust.

Health and Human Services investigators stressed the damage caused when providers place profit above care.

Defense officials reinforced the importance of trustworthy care, especially for service members and their families.

A Cautionary Tale

The case of Dr. Mona Ghosh serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of exploiting the healthcare system. While the justice system has delivered a strong verdict, the true cost—borne by patients who trusted their doctor—may never be fully repaid.

Her sentencing sends a clear message across the medical field: abuse of trust, especially when it harms vulnerable patients, will not go unpunished.