Bucks County Medicare Fraud Lawyers
Being accused or convicted of Medicare fraud can have serious consequences. If you or a loved one in Bucks County have been accused of this crime, it is important to get immediate legal representation from a criminal defense attorney.
What Is Medicare Fraud?
In general, Medicare fraud occurs when a person makes false statements or otherwise is dishonest in order to get payments from Medicare. Health care practitioners and hospitals are the most likely parties to be charged with this crime. This type of fraud can include falsifying records, billing for procedures that did not occur, or inflating bills. In addition, failing to charge a required co-pay or receiving incentives for prescribing certain goods and services can be classified as Medicare fraud.
In addition, there are ways that individuals who received Medicare benefits may be charged with fraud. For example, people who are intentionally dishonest when applying for the program may have committed fraud.
Fraud requires intent. In order to be convicted, prosecutors have to show that you committed an action that qualifies as fraud and that you did it knowingly. However, many people are charged with this crime for relatively innocent actions. It is extremely important to get a lawyer who is experienced with this kind of fraud and knows how to build a successful defense.
Penalties for Medicare Fraud
Medicare fraud is one of the most common types of white-collar crime. The government takes fraud very seriously and has teams of lawyers dedicated to investigating and levying these charges.
At the very least, people convicted of committing this type of fraud will be asked to repay all of the funds that Medicare believes they unlawfully received. In addition, they are often barred from receiving Medicare payments in the future. If the case was particularly severe or represents a pattern of illegal behavior, the person may lose their professional license and be unable to work in their field.
In addition, there may be criminal penalties. People convicted of Medicare fraud may face steep fines as well as years in prison.
If you have been accused of Medicare fraud, your first step should be to call one of our Bucks County Medicare fraud lawyers.
The Expert Help and Representation You Deserve
Facing down the federal government can be an extremely intimidating and frightening feat. Your career, your reputation, and your family’s financial future depend on how you handle this battle.
We have successfully defended clients like you with similar charges. We know exactly how to make a winning case in your defense. For example, we can often make a compelling argument that you were not aware of the actions that are considered fraudulent. Although you may have to repay funds you wrongly received, the government cannot act punitively unless you intended to deceive or defraud them.
In addition, the government can be overzealous in investigating and collecting evidence in these cases. If any of the evidence against you was not collected in a manner that preserves your Constitutional rights, our lawyers can petition to have it thrown out of court.
Depending on the particulars of your case, it may be beneficial to plead to a lesser charge. We can present information to help you make this decision and then get the best possible deal.
Call Today for a Free Consultation
The federal government is increasingly searching for fraud against Medicare and other entitlement programs. Many innocent people, some of them upstanding professionals with no record, are being falsely accused of serious crimes. If you or a loved one has been charged with Medicare fraud, contact our offices today for a free consultation.