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Healthcare Fraud Defense

Healthcare fraud is costly for taxpayers who end up paying for kickbacks, referrals, and other illegal practices, and for healthcare providers accused of fraud. However, practices that may appear on the surface to violate healthcare fraud laws often fit within statutory exceptions or might be unintentional mistakes. Either of these may reduce a defendant's exposure to liability.

If you are under investigation for or facing allegations of fraudulent practices in a medical context, an experienced Michigan healthcare fraud defense lawyer can explain the applicable laws and sanctions for violations, help uncover valuable evidence, and advocate on your behalf to reach a positive outcome. Reach out to a well-versed fraud attorney for legal advice and guidance.

Why the Federal Government Gets Involved in Michigan Healthcare Cases

While it may be not surprising that the federal government investigates and prosecutes activities involving multi-state conduct, the federal government also prosecutes cases that may involve a single office in Michigan. The reason for this is that many healthcare providers receive payments from the federal government through programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. While medical fraud is prohibited by Michigan laws and federal laws, the federal government may take the lead on a case involving alleged, fraud since federal funds are so often involved.

Practices Prohibited as Healthcare Fraud

Situations that allegedly constitute healthcare fraud may be based on an innocent billing error. In other cases, a physician's assessment of the need for particular services might be called into question as potentially fraudulent. Overall, there are numerous practices that could be prosecuted as medical fraud. As a knowledgeable attorney could explain, these include and are not limited to:

  • Physician self-referrals/Stark Law violations
  • Unbundling or billing separately for services that should have been bundled
  • Upcoding or billing for services more extensive and expensive than those provided
  • Falsifying records or test results
  • Offering or accepting kickbacks for referrals
  • Billing for services or medications never provided
  • Provision of unnecessary services
  • False billing for a non-covered service

In certain cases, providers engage in these practices in a deliberate attempt to obtain federal funds fraudulently. In other situations, these practices occur due to mistake or a difference in judgment. A skilled medical fraud defense attorney in Michigan may know how to build the most effective defense based on the unique circumstances of a particular case.

Applicable Laws and Penalties

The federal government may prosecute suspected healthcare fraud using an array of different civil and criminal statutes. Also, private individuals often file lawsuits alleging health care fraud under statutory provisions encouraging the public to "blow the whistle" on practices that may defraud the government.

As an example, the False Claims Act contains qui tam provisions allowing this type of lawsuit. If such actions succeed in recovering damages, the person who files the claim is entitled to a share of the recovery. This could, in turn, encourage others to file qui tam lawsuits. In conjunction with the False Claims Act, cases may be prosecuted under the Stark Law, the Anti-Kickback Statute, the criminal provisions of 18 U.S.C. §1347, and other federal and state laws.

Penalties for criminal violations may include up to 5-10 years in prison, and fines that could be assessed for criminal or civil violations could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Those found to have committed health care fraud may also be prohibited from ever again participating in Medicare and other federal health care programs. Given the potential penalties of healthcare fraud, accused individuals should speak with a skilled Michigan attorney to learn their options for a defense case.

Contact a Michigan Health Care Fraud Defense Attorney

Some healthcare fraud laws require an action to be taken with knowledge of the fraudulent circumstances for a violation to occur. Other laws contain no such requirement, so it is possible to commit a violation without realizing any wrongdoing has transpired.

Given the high stakes, it is wise for anyone concerned with allegations of health care fraud to consult an accomplished Michigan healthcare fraud defense lawyer as soon as possible. To set up a consultation and learn how a hard-working medical fraud defense attorney can assist in your situation, call now.

Call Today! FREE Consultation Lawyer and Receive Immediate Attention for Your Criminal Law Case Patrick T. Barone is a Michigan Super Lawyer, who has maintained continuous top attorney ratings since 2007. In addition, the Michigan native is the author of multiple books on OWI, DUI and criminal law. The OUIL attorney near me has lectured at over 80 legal seminars all over America. He leads Barone Defense Firm in providing aggressive legal warriors for each client's criminal case.

Contact us 24 hours a day at our law firm’s easy to remember toll-free number, 1-877-ALL-MICH or 877-255-6424, for a free criminal case review. The Michigan attorneys near me at Barone Defense Firm travel the entire Great Lakes State, to help citizens in legal trouble in Michigan for alleged criminal law violations.

For your FREE lawyer consultation, call today to learn how to protect yourself from a possible unwarranted conviction. What do you have to lose, when the free legal advice with our litigation team’s criminal lawyers near me can answer many tough questions?

Client Reviews
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Patrick Barone is the ONLY choice for DUI defense. He was realistic from the start and made it a point to look at my case before taking my money. As a business owner, when I think of attorneys, I think of the "shark infested waters. Patrick is a shark alright, but his prey is not the client; it's justice for his client. Ten stars Patrick!! Chris F.
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Attorney Patrick Barone was very helpful and helped me understand the charge and sentence absolutely clearly. He also guided me through step by step helping me form a statement. His instructions were clear and detailed. It was obvious he cared about me understanding every important detail within my case. I would absolutely recommend this defense firm to anyone in need. Aaron B.
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The Barone Defense Firm is the firm I recommend. They are truly concerned about the person, not just the legal issue, but the person as well. They are the most knowledgeable defense firm that I am aware of, having actually written the book on DWI Defense. If you are faced with a DWI you will not find a more professional and skilled law firm. But, most importantly, they care about how the accused individual recovers his or her life when the case is complete. Very remarkable group of lawyers. William H.