Medicare fraud allegations can seriously threaten the financial well-being of business owners, healthcare organizations, and medical providers. If you or your practice is dealing with allegations of Medicare fraud, a Dallas Medicare fraud defense lawyer can provide you with crucial legal support. They can help you navigate complex investigation and defense processes, working to mitigate any negative consequences and preserve your reputation.
Michael Uhl is a former prosecutor who understands the tricks that government agencies employ to attempt to incriminate people and practices that are trying to stay afloat in the complex healthcare regulations ecosystem. He and his experienced legal team at Michael Uhl, P.C., can work closely with you, understanding the unique challenges your healthcare practice or organization may be facing and developing a robust legal plan to protect your future.
Understanding Medicare Fraud in Dallas, Texas
Medicare fraud charges can arise in a variety of different circumstances that all have one thing in common — attempting to get unauthorized payments from the federal Medicare program. Common Medicare fraud allegations Michael Uhl, P.C., has defended clients successfully against include the following:
- Charging the same service multiple times.
- Upcoding or overcharging for services.
- Charging for healthcare services that were never actually provided.
- Offering kickbacks in exchange for Medicare patient referrals.
- Accepting kickbacks in exchange for making referrals of Medicare patients.
- Prescribing or performing medical procedures that are unnecessary to receive payment from Medicare.
- Falsifying healthcare documentation or patient records to justify unwarranted billing practices.
For a person to be convicted of Medicare charges, it must be proven that their actions were intentional and not due to a billing error or misunderstanding. Clerical mistakes or slip-ups, however, can lead to federal investigations that can have drastic consequences for a practice or business. A skilled Dallas Medicare fraud defense lawyer can help you navigate the investigation and criminal defense process, working to protect your organization’s rights and interests.
Potential Penalties Your Dallas Practice Could Be Facing for Medicare Fraud
Medicare fraud crimes are prosecuted under federal laws like the Stark Law, the Anti-Kickback Statute, and the False Claims Act. Those found guilty of committing Medicare fraud crimes can face serious criminal penalties like long prison sentences, with cases that involve harm or death coming with longer terms. Practices can also face hefty fines for false claims.
Organizations or practices found guilty of Medicare fraud may be barred from participating in federal healthcare programs like Medicare or Medicaid in the future. Furthermore, even allegations of Medicare fraud can seriously damage a professional’s reputation and lead to the loss of any certifications or licenses.
Fight Back With A
Strong Defense
A Dallas Medicare Fraud Defense Lawyer Can Help You
Working with a skilled Dallas Medicare fraud defense attorney can help you minimize any negative impacts of investigations or proceedings against you and your practice and work to negate any allegations. A skilled lawyer can assist with deeply looking at the evidence and claims against you and find any inconsistencies or weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.
Whether your case involves a misunderstanding, clerical mistake, billing error, or miscommunication, a skilled attorney can help build a strong and personalized criminal defense strategy to set the record straight. If the evidence is particularly stacked against you, a dedicated attorney may recommend negotiating with prosecutors to get you lesser penalties or charges.
Furthermore, if your case does end up going to trial, a compassionate and fierce criminal defense lawyer can fight hard to optimally represent your case, safeguarding your rights and interests.
FAQs
Common examples of Medicare fraud in Texas and across the United States include inflating healthcare-related charges, unnecessary billing of medical procedures that are not needed, accepting kickback payments to refer patients to another doctor, and falsely claiming compensation for medical procedures that were not rendered. Further examples include altering or falsifying medical records to justify faulty claims.
In Texas, people who can be accused of Medicare fraud include healthcare organizations and providers like hospitals, pharmacies, doctors, nurses, and clinics. Furthermore, any employees who are found to be involved with billing or coding practices that are unlawful, in addition to business owners, may face charges for Medicare fraud. Even individuals who mean well but make mistakes during the billing process can face serious Medicare fraud allegations.
The penalties for Medicare fraud in Texas and across the United States are serious and can include imprisonment, drastic fines, and restitution payments. Furthermore, associated entities may be excluded from accepting Medicare or other federal healthcare programs. Penalties for Medicare fraud depend on a variety of factors, including the severity and pervasiveness of the alleged unlawful practices.
If you’ve been accused of Medicare fraud in Texas, it is crucial to avoid talking to law enforcement or any investigative agencies without first working with an experienced attorney. If you have even a slight reason to believe that you’re under investigation for Medicare fraud in the state, it is crucial to immediately contact a Medicare fraud defense lawyer who can protect your rights and interests.
Yes, even if you are not guilty of intentionally committing Medicare fraud, you might be under investigation for these crimes in Texas. Individuals and entities in charge of Medicare billing and coding can face serious scrutiny, even if innocent, due to misunderstandings, whistleblower claims, billing errors, or oversights.
An experienced criminal defense lawyer can work to clarify the situation, showing that you comply with Medicare regulations and work to resolve the investigation.
Protect Your Future and Reputation With a Dallas Medicare Fraud Defense Lawyer
If you or your practice is under attack due to charges against you of Medicare fraud, it is crucial to work with experienced and skilled legal representation who can defend your rights and interests. At Michael Uhl, P.C., an experienced Dallas Medicare fraud defense lawyer is here for you to review the details of your case, work to clarify any misunderstandings, and, if necessary, advocate fiercely on your behalf in the courtroom. Contact us today to get started.