Top Plant City, FL Medicare Fraud Lawyers Near You
We FIGHT To Get Results. Over 40 Years Of Experience Defending Those Accused Of Serious State And Federal Charges
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Top-Rated, Highly-Experienced, LOCAL Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys. 150+ Yrs. Combined Experience. A+ by the BBB, Super Lawyers, Superb 10 AVVO, Top 100 Trial Lawyers
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Our nationwide team of defense lawyers includes a former U.S. Attorney, four former Federal Prosecutors, two former FBI agents and two former Army JAGS.
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Fed Trouble? Free Consult. Former Prosecutor & Team Former Federal Agents. Call/Text 24/7. Immediate Response Guaranteed!
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Aggressive Defense & Proven Results MATTER for your freedom! Trust our experienced federal crime defense history to protect your rights & fight for your life.
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Defending your rights since 1974. Nationally recognized experts in Federal and White Collar offenses. Highly qualified with the experience necessary to WIN. Call now!
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Federal Defender with 25 years trial experience. Assisting those accused of drug crimes, white collar and any federal criminal defense matters. You speak to me directly!
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625 E Twiggs St, Suite 1000 Unit 117, Tampa, FL 33602
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Musca Law has experience helping clients with their Medicare Fraud needs in Plant City, Florida.
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4401 West Kennedy Blvd, Suite 250, Tampa, FL 33609
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Whittel & Melton, LLC, a reputable Medicare Fraud firm representing clients in the Plant City, Florida area.
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8601 4th St. N., Suite 104, St. Petersburg, FL 33702
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Tinny Meyer & Piccarreto PA has experience helping clients with their Medicare Fraud needs in Plant City, Florida.
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511 West Bay Street, Suite 330, Tampa, FL 33606
O’Brien Hatfield, P.A., is a law firm in Plant City, Florida with experience resolving cases in Medicare Fraud.
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1710 N 19th Street, Unit 210, Tampa, FL 33605
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Clients in the Plant City, Florida area who need legal help with Medicare Fraud issues can connect with Brunvand Wise, P.A..
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9721 Executive Center Dr N, Suite 120, St. Petersburg, FL 33702
2363 Gulf to Bay Blvd, Suite 100, Clearwater, FL 33765
201 E Kennedy Blvd, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33602
One Tampa City Center, Suite 3200, 201 North Franklin Street, Tampa, FL 33602
777 S Harbour Island Blvd, Suite 420, Tampa, FL 33602
4830 W Kennedy Blvd., Ste. 600, Tampa, FL 33609
13119 W. Linebaugh Ave, Ste. 102, Tampa, FL 33626
5453 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33710
2917 W Kennedy Blvd Suite 100, Tampa, FL 33609
4301 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Suite 300, Tampa, FL 33607
400 North Ashley Drive, Suite 1900, Tampa, FL 33602
5470 E. Busch Blvd., Suite 149, Temple Terrace, FL 33617
100 N. Tampa Street, Suite 3500, Tampa, FL 33602
201 North Franklin Street, Suite 2150, Tampa, FL 33602
777 S Harbour Island Blvd, Suite 320, Tampa, FL 33602
2501 Orient Rd, Suite D, Tampa, FL 33619
707 N. Franklin St. 10th Floor, Tampa Theatre Building, Tampa, FL 33602
501 E Kennedy Blvd, Suite 790, Tampa, FL 33602
Tampa Theatre Building, 707 North Franklin Street, 2nd Floor, PO Box 342242, Tampa, FL 33694
1011 W Cleveland Street, Tampa, FL 33606
Plant City Medicare Fraud Information
Lead Counsel independently verifies Medicare Fraud attorneys in Plant City and checks their standing with Florida bar associations.
Our Verification Process and Criteria
Ample Experience
Attorneys must meet stringent qualifications and prove they practice in the area of law they’re verified in.Good Standing
Be in good standing with their bar associations and maintain a clean disciplinary record.Annual Review
Submit to an annual review to retain their Lead Counsel Verified status.Client Commitment
Pledge to follow the highest quality client service and ethical standards.
What Constitutes Medicare Fraud?
Medicare is a national health insurance program, administered under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Medicare covers many of the healthcare expenses of enrollees. Uncovered services and remaining costs may be covered by private insurance or other government benefit programs. To be eligible under Medicare, the individual has to meet one of the following requirements:
- Age 65 or older and a U.S. citizen, or LPR for 5 continuous years with a qualifying spouse or ex-spouse
- Under 65 with a disability and have been receiving SSDI or other disability benefits for a qualifying period of time
- People with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) receiving continuing dialysis
Medicare fraud involves making false claims or fraudulent misrepresentations for Medicare health care benefit reimbursement. According to the Government Accountability Office, Medicare is vulnerable to fraud, with a low rate of Medicare claim audits. People accused of Medicare fraud can involve anyone involved in government healthcare benefit program, including:
- Doctors and medical providers
- Billing professionals
- Health care professionals
- Health care services companies
- Insurance companies
- Pharmaceutical companies
What Are Examples of Medicare Fraud?
Medicare fraud generally occurs between medical care providers and patients, vendors, or other doctors. There are several examples of medical billing fraud, anti-kickback violations, and financial gain through improper self-referral. Some common examples of Medicare fraud include:
- Billing for services that are not necessary
- Health care provider treatment for an undiagnosed condition
- Charging for an unnecessary expensive service
- Paying kickbacks for referrals
- Unbundling medical procedures
- Double billing or duplicate claims
- Up-coding
- Billing for medical services never provided
How is Medicare Fraud Determined?
There are several ways Medicare fraud can be identified. Suspected fraud can be reported by patients, healthcare providers, or even employees. Health care fraud cases can also be identified through computer analysis. CMS uses a Fraud Prevention System (FPS) to identify possible fraud. According to CMS, the FPS is a “state-of-the-art predictive analytics technology.”
The system assesses all Medicare fee-for-service claims to identify fraudulent claims and take administrative action. When patterns of inappropriate billing are identified, investigators conduct site visits, interview patients, and review medical records to identify fraud.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has a hotline for reporting potential fraud and Medicare abuse. Patients, co-workers, or employees may have an incentive for reporting fraudulent billing and may be eligible for whistleblower awards under some federal programs.
Is Medicare Fraud Civil or Criminal?
Medicare fraud charges can involve both civil and criminal laws and penalties. Federal health care fraud carries felony criminal charges. The penalties for a conviction of federal government fraud include up to 10 years in federal prison, or up to 20 if it resulted in serious bodily injury.
When a doctor refers a Medicare patient to another business or provider where the doctor has a financial interest, it may be a violation of the Physician Self-Referral Law, or the Stark Law. Civil penalties for illegal patient referrals include civil penalties, treble damages, and Medicare program exclusion.
The Anti-Kickback Statute is a criminal statute, with penalties including possible imprisonment for up to five years, fines, and exclusion from federal benefit programs.
The False Claims Act (FCA) provides for civil penalties where a doctor defrauds the federal government. The FCA also provides a reward system, and whistleblowers can recover up to 30% of the money recovered by the government.
Other penalties may include restitution, or paying back the victims of fraud. After a conviction for Medicare fraud, a doctor could also lose their medical license or be excluded from participating in Medicare or Medicaid. Medicare fraud may also involve other criminal violations, including:
- Identity theft
- Forgery
- Money laundering
- Wire fraud
- Insurance fraud
What if You Are Accused of Medicare Fraud?
Not all Medicare fraud criminal investigations involve criminal intent. There are a number of possible explanations or legal defenses when a doctor faces fraud allegations. In many cases, suspected fraud may be caused by simple mistakes or unclear rules, without any intention of fraud. A fraud attorney can review your case for a strategic defense, with possible defenses including:
- Accidentally putting in the wrong billing code
- Accidentally ordering extra diagnostic tests
- Billing employees did not have the proper training
- Patient claimed they did not already have a procedure or test
- Misspellings or unclear handwriting