When Should I Hire a Healthcare Fraud Lawyer?
Healthcare professionals or medical facilities that are accused of fraud should hire a Fort Lauderdale healthcare fraud lawyer right away if accused of these crimes. Developing a defense against these charges is vital, and the process should begin right away. Those notified by government authorities of an investigation or whose offices are audited by investigators should pick up the phone and call a lawyer immediately.
A Fort Lauderdale healthcare fraud lawyer will make sure the investigation follows proper legal protocol and the medical professional’s or facility’s rights are upheld throughout the:
- investigation;
- audit; and
- during any criminal proceedings that might follow.
What are Some of the Most Common Types of Healthcare Fraud Accusations
Medical establishments such as nursing homes and hospitals and professionals such as physicians and dentists in Florida hire a Fort Lauderdale healthcare fraud lawyer if accused of the following actions:
- Overbilling or Upcoding: The healthcare industry uses a coding system to bill for particular services rendered. Overbilling or upcoding involves billing for services not rendered or using a code for a service that returns greater compensation. Perfectly innocuous mistakes like inputting the wrong code can be common. However, the law does not always regard such slips as unintentional. These mistakes cost the healthcare provider dearly and compel him or her to hire an attorney.
- Over-Utilizing Drugs and/or Services: Some healthcare service providers get embroiled in cases that allege Medicare and Medicaid fraudulent practices like over-utilization of drugs and/or services. Healthcare providers may defend themselves against these charges by presenting medical records demonstrating that any drugs prescribed or services rendered were necessary and part of acceptable treatment methods.
- Obtaining Kickbacks: Kickbacks are when a physician receives some kind of compensation or something of value for referring a patient to another professional or for referring a particular product.
Contact Our Fort Lauderdale Healthcare Lawyer for Your Case
The Law Offices of Robert David Malove helps healthcare professionals. Our Fort Lauderdale healthcare fraud lawyer offers legal guidance to healthcare providers in Florida who have been wrongly accused of committing fraudulent practices. To set up a free consultation with our experienced Fort Lauderdale healthcare fraud lawyer, contact our Florida office online or give us a call at 954.861.0384 now!