Hire an Experienced Medicare Fraud Attorney to Avoid the Harsh Penalties of Conviction

Getting convicted of Medicare fraud can have serious repercussions for your career and life. Here’s a list of possible Medicare fraud conviction consequences and an explanation of how an experienced Medicare fraud attorney can help you in your case.

Potential Consequences of Conviction for Medicare Fraud

Medicare care fraud can be of different types such as submitting false claims for payment, submitting false claims for patient with whom the provider has no professional relationship, billing for services not provided, upcoding, performing unnecessary clinical tests or treatments, providing false or misleading information relating to a patient’s discharge and much more. Here are some of the penalties you could end up facing if you get convicted of Medicare fraud:

• Civil monetary penalties of up to $250,000.
• Jail time of up to 20 years
• Loss of licensure
• Loss of DEA registration
• Prohibition from Medicare and Medicaid
• Non-payment of outstanding dues
• Losing of staff privileges
• Losing employment opportunities

Experienced Attorneys Have Access to Right Resources

An experienced Medicare fraud attorney can help you navigate highly specific and complex healthcare fraud charges. Experienced attorneys have access to niche resources such as forensic accountants, investigators and medical experts and investigators to review the government’s allegations and put up a strong challenge.

Experienced Attorneys Use Defense Strategies

In Medicare fraud cases, an experienced attorney will try various strategies to obtain best outcome for clients. One strategy may be to use effective pre-trial motions to bury or narrow the government’s case before trial. Another strategy may be to make the accused provider a valuable witness rather than a defendant to shift the focus of a criminal investigation. Another strategy may be to assert that the provider did not have the intent to commit fraud – in many Medicare fraud cases, the prosecution has to prove that the defendant intentionally submitted a false claim. 

If you or someone you know is facing a charge of Medicare fraud, feel free to avail a no-obligation consultation with an experienced Medicare fraud defense attorney to discuss the case in complete confidence.

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Five Benefits of Hiring an Experienced Medical Staff Attorney

Medico-legal matters tend to be complex and complicated. Although there are many healthcare lawyers practicing today, an experienced medical staff attorney can provide more value than others. Here are some benefits of partnering an experienced healthcare attorney.

How Can Medical Staff Benefit?

Experienced lawyers for doctors and other medical staff often work on different types of medico-legal matters. Their area of practice may include administrative and agency law, health and healthcare law, compliance, DEA registration, professional licensing privileges, criminal and civil case consultation and healthcare fraud among others. Some of the benefits of partnering an experienced healthcare attorney include:

• Experienced medical staff attorneys have years of practice behind him. Along with having thorough knowledge of various rules and regulations, they have working knowledge of how courts operate and how regulations are likely to be addressed in court settings.
• Moreover, experienced lawyers know the importance of thorough research and make an effort to investigate and address all aspects of a case. With their extensive knowledge, medical staff attorneys help clients explore all relevant options.
• Many medico-legal cases are settled out of court through negotiation. An experienced lawyer is more likely to have the multi-faceted negotiation skills to garner best possible outcomes for clients.
• Behind every successful healthcare attorney is a network of connections the attorney leverages to support clients and their legal efforts – for example, expert witnesses or investigators can help healthcare lawyers put up a good case for healthcare fraud that doctors are sometimes involved in.
• One of the biggest benefits of hiring an experienced healthcare attorney for medical staff is that the attorney is more likely to prepare a case with facts and figures and also move the legal process along efficiently. 

Final Words

Partnering an experienced healthcare attorney for medical staff takes the burden of your shoulders and allows you to focus on providing quality healthcare services while providing you with an extra layer of protection. For more information, avail a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced healthcare attorney!

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Whistleblower Lawyer – Helping People Fight Fraud Activities

Whistleblower lawsuits involve complex procedures. The legal proceedings in such cases have specific filing and pleading demand. Therefore, to present a strong case and seek support from the government to bring fraud activities to light, one needs to consult a whistleblower lawyer.

The concerned professional can preserve whistleblower’s anonymity and safeguard him against any type of retaliation. Furthermore, he can help you in the following ways:

Evaluate claim

Firstly, your whistleblower lawyer will evaluate the shreds of evidence in support of allegations. Further, to make your case stronger, the professional may also recommend you obtain additional documents or report the incident internally before filing a claim.

Submit information or file a lawsuit

Depending upon the case type, a whistleblower lawyer may file a lawsuit in the court. He will aptly convey the court about how a company is defrauding the government. Moreover, in case of tax fraud or security fraud, your lawyer may help you submit information precisely as per the whistleblower program.

Convenience government to support

If the government agrees to intervene then your case may get a stronger upholding. Therefore, to persuade the government to extend support and join lawsuit, a whistleblower lawyer may help you compose a stronger set of evidence.

Stay by your side

After claim submission, the government schedules a meet with the whistleblower to verify the information. In such events, your whistleblower lawyer accompanies and helps you to prepare for all expected questions that may arise during the process.

Protects your identity to avoid retaliation

To prevent whistleblower’s identity from being disclosed, a lawyer undertakes all possible legal measures. He may protect you from being demoted, discharged, threatened, harassed, or discriminated by any means. If as a whistleblower, you face retaliation then your lawyer can help you file a lawsuit against an organization demanding compensation for losses occurred.

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Common Instances Where a Medicare Fraud Attorney Can Help

Medicare frauds are the perplex types of cases, where an experienced Medicare fraud attorney can be of much help. These cases are constantly evolving with changes in Medicare governing laws and regulations. Hence, it becomes highly technical for a whistleblower to prove any Medicare fraud due to strict rules of secrecy. A Medicare fraud attorney can understand the complexity of these terms and comprehend the same in an easier way to the whistleblower.

Understanding the complexities of Medicare fraud cases is, at times, quite expensive. A trustworthy and genuine medicare fraud attorney can help you to build a successful healthcare fraud case while minimizing your expenses. You need to disclose the entire case in front of your attorney so that the case can get a strong foundation.

Most common medicare fraud examples

Medicare is a federal health care program, which intends to provide healthcare services, life-saving drugs, and much more. Any fraud in these fields can bring the survivor to a medicare fraud attorney for taking the case ahead. Here are a few common examples of medicare frauds the attorneys are handling these days:

1. Lack of medical requirements: If there is billing for product, service, or procedure, which are not medically necessary.
2. Phantom billing: This fraud belongs to the reimbursement claim made by a company for an employee who doesn’t exist.
3. Double billing: It is the fraud where a customer is charged twice for the same product or service.
4. Pharmaceutical fraud: These frauds include various activities that result in false claims.
5. Upcoding and unbundling frauds: These involve improper applications of codes for any medical procedure or diagnosis.

Approach your attorney today

If you have discovered or tackled any medicare fraud, you should immediately speak with a medicare fraud attorney to investigate and prosecute the lawsuit. The attorney helps you to unveil intricate layers of medicare case by performing the in-depth background evaluation. For more insight into Medicare fraud or to seek the assistance of an experienced professional, you can seek help from Haber’s Law. The renowned legal firm extends cordial legal support to its clients affected by Medicare fraud.

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How Does Federal False Claims Act Work?

The false claim act is a federal law that poses liabilities on persons and companies who defraud governmental programs. It is regarded as one of the most effective tools to combat fraud against the federal government. The false claim act is often referred to as Lincoln’s Law and it has been considered as highly effective in combating fraud and abuse in government contracts for defense, energy, construction, housing, natural disaster recovery, and other forms of government procurement. The law includes qui tam provision, which allows people to file action on behalf of the government.

How does false claim act work?

The False Claim Act allows people (relators) to file a lawsuit against those who directly or indirectly defrauded the federal government. The lawsuit can be filed against the individual, businesses, and entity. The cases are filed by the whistleblower, a person who exposes any illegal activity or pass on the information about the unethical activities undertaking within the organization to the government.

The whistleblower who brings the case against an individual under the false claim act files the complaint under seal. It means that neither the defendant nor the public is aware of the charges under which the complaint is filed. The complaint remains under seal for 60 days until the time the government investigates the charges and allegation files by the whistleblower. Filing the case under false claim act seems to be complex. If the whistleblower fails to submit accurate reports in the manner required by the False Claims Act can result in a dismissal of the whistleblower’s lawsuit. In this circumstance, the whistleblower seeks the help of the false claims act attorney, who can help ensure their claim is filed and litigated properly and in a manner that protects their rights.

The false claim act attorney ensures that the allegations filed by the whistleblower against an individual or entity are correct.

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Why Whistleblowers is Important for Physicians?

A job of a physician involves working for long and irregular hours. Physicians may have to frequently travel between their office and hospital to address the concerns of their patients in case of emergency. Their work is certainly hectic and demands continuous efforts on a day-to-day basis. Since physicians can cure even some of the severe illnesses, patients consider them to be a blessing in disguise. However, several cases are reported against physicians for deceiving patients, as it has become rampant in the nursing industry. Many hospitals and medical service providers across the globe have turned to illegal practices to boost their foundation.

Following are some examples of frauds done by the physicians in hospitals:

• Billing for patients that never existed
• Using cheap medical equipment, but billing for premium services
• Billing for services that haven’t been performed
• Billing more than once for similar service
• Waiving co-payments consistently

Steps to limit fraud or false claims by a physician

The government has taken serious steps to recognize and stop these frauds in the medical industry that lead to inefficiency and excessively increased costs of treatments. After considering all options, the government has decided to provide a financial incentive to people who witness illegal practices and are willing to file a report.

If you come across a situation, where you believe the government is being tricked illegally by physicians, you can also be one of the whistleblowers that recover between 15 to 30 percent amount from their scheme of fraud lawsuit. You can play an important role in stopping these illegal activities by filing legal actions against fraud or false claims by a physician. Your act of whistleblowing against harmful deeds of physicians will not only highlight your courage but will also help out society to abolish corrupt practices.

Protection of Whistleblowers

Whistleblowers, without a doubt, do good work for the society, but they may sometimes have to face insecurities for filing complaints against an organization. However, there are whistle-blower lawyers, who protect whistleblowers and also help them get a reward for your brave act. So, if you’re willing to get some benefits by exposing some organization, physicians and other entities from your whistleblowing act, you can contact some reputed attorneys to easily deal with the entire situation.

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4 Things You Might Not Be Aware of a Health Care Lawyer

Over the past few years, fraudulent issues in the healthcare industry have become a growing issue of concern. False allegations, medical disputes, abuse, healthcare fraud, etc., lead to a potential penalty. Any false claim in relation to a Medicaid can irreparably change the life of a professional, especially one who is dependent on a license to practice. With an increase in the potential cases of healthcare crime, healthcare lawyers understand the potential penalty and come with a conviction.

Healthcare lawyers possess acute knowledge. They are equipped to counsel clientele regarding any types of administrative and regulatory disputes involving, malpractice allegation, violation of anti-trust, charges of negligence, pharmaceutical product liability lawsuits, etc. The healthcare attorneys are experienced in handling day to day issues and assist clients in complex matters.

If you are charged with healthcare fraud, then you must know 4 points, which includes:

• Payment suspension: Under Affordable Care Act, if a health care provider is found guilty, he/she will be deemed to suspend. This is done through the recommendations made by the department of Health and Human service to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”).CMS halts all payment of the physician. In such a situation, one can hire a lawyer for doctor, who strategically plans to protect the interest of the company and its staff. Experienced lawyers can cut down criminal charges.
• Grand Jury Subpoenas Issued to Suspect’s Banks: the goal of the government is to recoup money from healthcare firms who illegally obtained money through fraudulent business operations. While doing so, the government will issue federal Grand Jury subpoenas to banks and financial institutions. The healthcare lawyers help healthcare institutions but it is extremely rare that bank shares illegal information with customers.
• Medical malpractice: Medical malpractice claims are quite challenging. A medical mistake is devastating and negligence is the root cause of the mistake. By hiring medicare fraud lawyer, you can sense the validity of your claim and punish the guilty.
• Insurance claim: If you met with an accident and you have medical insurance, you can file and insurance claim with insurance service provider. An insurance claim will give you compensation for any sort of medical expenses and if you are not satisfied with the insurance claim process, you can seek the help of legal attorneys, who would appeal to the insurance company for a claim.

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