Pasadena Healthcare Fraud Attorney
25+ Years of Experience Protecting Clients’ Careers and Futures
Doctors are relied on to protect and prolong human lives. However, sometimes, their financial work is less trusted. If you are a physician or other medical professional, a fraud accusation puts everything on the line and jeopardizes the career you’ve spent ample time and money building.
Criminal accusations can derail your life. Let us fight on your behalf to protect your future. Call us today at (888) 717-0139 to learn more about how the Law Offices of Matthew Cargal can help.
Contact our Pasadena healthcare fraud lawyer to get started with a free preliminary case review.
Common Examples of Healthcare Fraud
Healthcare fraud happens when an individual makes a false claim to a healthcare benefit program. Common examples of healthcare fraud include:
- Accepting kickbacks for referring patients
- Charging for procedures and services not provided
- Double billing
- Falsifying records
- Illegal bundling to increase fees
- Performing nonessential and unrequested procedures
- Prescribing unnecessary medicine
- Requesting unnecessary patient tests
- Submitting false claims
- Upcoding, or charging for a more expensive services than what was performed
Cases typically consist of one larger charge of conspiracy to commit fraud, paired with multiple additional charges to indict individual fraudulent acts.
The Progression of a Healthcare Fraud Case
Healthcare fraud cases begin with a preindictment investigation. During this preliminary search, government agents will search for evidence to convince a jury that fraud is occurring.
Indictment follows. A grand jury will work the case in secret, with the details sealed until the U.S. Attorney moves to arrest every person involved in the fraudulent acts. The charge is not limited to doctors. It could name office staff, pharmacists, and more. If an individual assisted in defrauding the practice, they are subject to being arrested and processed.
After those involved in the case have been informed of the charges and determine how they will plead, they will be interviewed by the Pre-Trial Services office to decide if they may be released on bond.
Once the judge decides whether an individual may be released on bond and on what terms, the case progresses to discovery. Here, we will be shown some of the evidence that will be used against you in attempt to prove your involvement with the fraudulent act. We will simultaneously conduct our own investigation to compile materials to aid our defense.
During the discovery stages, we will file pretrial motions to achieve a number of objectives. These motions allow us to ask that:
- Certain evidence be excluded
- Defendants be severed
- The case be dismissed
We will base our approach and the motions we decide to file on your particular case.
Throughout the pretrial work, we can also work to negotiate a plea bargain until the pre-trial and plea cutoff hearing. At this final meeting before the trial begins, you will have the opportunity to inform the judge whether you would like to plead guilty or proceed with your right to a trial by jury. If you choose a trial, the details will be decided in the hearing.
Your trial could last anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months depending on the complexity of your case. If found guilty by the end of it, or if you initially elected to plead guilty, you will be provided with a date for a sentencing hearing.
The judge will review the Pre-Sentence Investigation Report and use it to inform their decision for the appropriate sentence.
It is essential to enlist our help as soon as you are made aware of the fact that an investigation has been started against you. If we come to the case early enough, we can engage in productive negotiations and attempt to drop any charges, or even open our own investigation to compile evidence of your innocence.
Penalties for Healthcare Fraud
Beyond the mark it leaves on a professional’s career, healthcare fraud could lead the convicted individual to experience penalties such as:
- Court costs
- Disqualification from becoming a Medicare or Medi-Cal provider
- Fines
- Forfeiture of offense-related assets
- Job loss
- Loss of professional license
- Prison time
- Probation
- Prohibition from billing federal entities
- Restitution
