Bergen Neurologist Charged In Kickback Scheme

PARAMUS, NJ — A Bergen County neurologist was charged with conspiracy and bribery for allegedly paying illegal kickbacks to a Totowa chiropractor in exchange for patient referrals, Attorney General Christopher Porrino announced Wednesday.

Dr. Terry Ramnanan, who runs the Interventional Spine and Pain facility in Paramus, was charged in an indictment by a state Grand Jury in Trenton, Porrino said.

Ramnanan, who lives in Upper Saddle River, is the latest doctor charged as a result of an investigation by the state Commercial Bribery Task Force. The investigation uncovered a statewide criminal enterprise where doctors allegedly received hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal kickbacks for providing patient referrals worth millions of dollars to other doctors, Porino said.

According to the indictment, from January 2012 to April 2016, Ramnanan conspired with Totowa chiropractor Dr. Ronald Hayek. Hayek was among dozens of doctors charged in two prior medical fraud investigations that lead to the task force's formation.

“Our Commercial Bribery Task Force will continue to unravel this tangled web of corruption until we identify and bring to justice everyone involved in this shameless scheme that puts profit over patients,” said Attorney General Porrino. “With each new defendant we charge, we’re reinforcing our message that New Jersey patients are not for sale.”

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Photo: Dr. Terry Ramnanan, 64/Courtesy of New Jersey Attorney General's Office