HealthCare Fraud Attorneys – Defense

Trying to Get Your Case Dismissed or Trying to Get Aggressive Legal Counsel to Get a Better Result? Our Nationwide Federal False Claims Act & HealthCare Fraud Lawyers Can Help.

If you did not intend to defraud the government, we can help.

Having Your Company Charged or Indicted for Federal Healthcare Frauds False Claims Act Will Expose Your Company’s Reputation While Impacting Your Ability to Create Jobs and Earn Revenues.   When you get the proper legal representation from top healthcare fraud attorneys, you put yourself in a better position to get your case dismissed or negotiate a better outcome.

Defending Your Case Can Be Simpler Than Many May Think

Did You Knowingly Intend to Defraud the Government?

The government will normally Use the Supreme Court Case of Universal Health Servs.. lnc. v. United States ex rel. Escobar,579 U.S. 176, 180 (2016) to support its allegations of you violating the False Claims Act. Litigation against the federal government in both criminal and civil False Claims Act cases can be very expensive and difficult. The government uses Universal Health Servs.. lnc. v. United States ex rel. Escobar to leverage its allegations that under 3 l U.S.C. § 3729, it has met the FCA’s scienter (knowledge) requirement to argue that by merely submitting or signing a document you automatically show a “reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the information.

At Watson & Associates, LLC our Federal False Claims Act defense attorneys understand that the prosecution MUST prove that you knowingly intended to commit fraud, and that the scienter element of the False Claims Act is one of the most difficult for the government’s prosecutor to prove. We aggressively represent you and focus on deconstructing the government’s case against you. Call our office immediately to secure aggressive legal representation and defense. 

Call 1.866.601.6618 and Speak to Mr. Watson 

Nationwide help in federal criminal cases: The law states that when you can show you never intended to defraud the government, our false claims act medical billing fraud defense attorneys can reduce the chances of being indicted or convicted by a jury at a criminal trial. As federal health care fraud defense lawyers, We Focus on Getting Your Case or Investigation Dismissed.

Understanding Your Primary Concern: Protecting Your Practice and Reputation

• We Put Together a Focused Team for Your Specific Case
• Get to the bottom of any criminal charges early. Federal prosecutors have already been investigating your case. DO not let them keep the advantage of you.
• Aggressive legal defense in criminal cases shows the government prosecutors that you are serious about defending your legal rights
• Our medical billing fraud and healthcare enforcement action defense attorneys handle every issue as though it were before a jury
• Our healthcare fraud law firm understands that taking shortcuts does not win cases.
• Our locations are strategically placed to represent clients across the country.

Medical Billing Fraud Defense – What You Should Know

Understanding Federal Healthcare Fraud Allegations. As healthcare overpayment defense lawyers, we healthcare providers facing fraud allegations such as:

• Prohibited Referrals for Designated Health Services: Engaging in referrals that violate federal statutes.
• Falsification of Test Results and Patient Records: Altering or fabricating medical records or test outcomes.
• Improper Remuneration for Patient Referrals: Offering or accepting payments or incentives for patient referrals, contravening the Anti-Kickback Statute.
• Overbilling Federal and Private Health Programs: Submitting claims that exceed the actual services provided to programs like Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, the Department of Labor (DOL), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), or private insurers.
• Billing and Coding Violations: Practices such as upcoding, unbundling, double-billing, or phantom billing that result in improper payments.

Facing a False Claims Act Investigation or Facing Criminal Charges? Here’s What You Need to Know

After getting legal counsel on your team, your stress level will become less, knowing that you have an aggressive team on your side:  When you are accused of defrauding the federal government through false claims, it’s essential to act quickly and strategically. One of your top concerns is likely to be how this will impact your reputation and financial stability. Our False Claims Act Lawyers and health care fraud attorneys specialize in helping clients navigate the complex legal landscape of federal investigations, working to protect their livelihoods and secure favorable outcomes.

Time is of the Essence

In these situations, time is of the essence. Federal agencies like the DOJ or OIG may already be building a case against you, which is why you need to know what actions to take—and avoid—immediately. The first mistake many clients make is speaking with federal investigators without the presence of their attorney. This can lead to unintended self-incrimination or misunderstandings. Our Qui Tam Defense Attorneys advise you not to engage in any communications with investigators until you have sought legal counsel. Remember, anything you say can be used against you, so your first step should be to consult with experienced legal professionals who can guide your response.

Uncertainty

When you stall and wait, government attorneys have already been on your case for years or months. Your life can become a nightmare without getting the legal help you need. One of the most significant pain points for those facing a False Claims Act investigation is the overwhelming uncertainty. You might wonder, “Will I lose my business? Will I face jail time?“ These are critical concerns, but rest assured that not every investigation leads to criminal charges or extreme penalties. Our team of Qui Tam Defense Attorneys is adept at building robust defenses, from questioning the intent behind the alleged false claims to challenging the government’s evidence. We provide comprehensive representation for all types of Federal Fraud cases, including Medicare and Medicaid fraud, procurement fraud, and allegations related to the Trade Agreements Act or Buy American Act.

Are You Facing HealthCare Fraud Charges? Learn How to Protect Yourself Here

Federal Agencies Overseeing Healthcare Compliance

Your initial investment with us is to first assess your case and to make a determination if we can help. We Don’t just accept cases if cannot help in some fashion: Several federal agencies are tasked with enforcing healthcare regulations, including: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): Which oversees federal healthcare programs and ensures compliance with billing practices; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA): Monitors the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances; Department of Justice (DOJ): Prosecutes healthcare fraud cases and enforces federal laws, and. Office of Inspector General (OIG): Conducts audits and investigations to prevent fraud and abuse in federal healthcare programs. Each health care fraud lawyer at our office is prepared to help.

Potential Consequences of Healthcare Fraud Convictions

Being found guilty of healthcare fraud can lead to severe penalties, including:

• Civil Penalties: Substantial fines and restitution payments.
• Criminal Penalties: Imprisonment, probation, and criminal fines.
• Professional Repercussions: Loss of medical licenses, exclusion from federal healthcare programs, and damage to professional reputation.

What Are False Claims Act Healthcare Fraud Penalties Under 18 USC 1347?

A violation of 18 USC 1347 for federal healthcare fraud and False Claims Ac violation is punishable by:

• a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and/or
• the imposition of a fine
• Additional charges of federal conspiracy charges
• Additional wire fraud charges

What is the Government’s Burden of Proof in a Criminal HealthCare Fraud Case?

False Claims Act Healthcare fraud under 18 USC 1347 typically involves a scheme to defraud the federal healthcare program. The government’s case may tend to argue false or fraudulent representations in exchange for money – health insurance fraud through payment of invoices or something of value.

The prosecutor has to prove every element of the case”beyond a reasonable doubt.”  This is a very high legal standard. The key to defending a False Claims Act healthcare fraud case is to show a lack of intent. This is usually the government’s biggest hurdle in a criminal case and something that the federal Anti-Kickback statute and medical billing fraud law firm, and a criminal healthcare fraud enforcement action defense lawyer at our firm can help.

• bribery,
• kickbacks,
• gratuities, and
• conflicts of interest
• Ghost Patients
• Inflating Cost Reports
• Billing for Services Not Rendered

18 USC 1347. makes it a federal crime to defraud any health care benefit program or obtain, by fraudulent means, any money or benefit from a health care program.

If you are thinking about hiring a health care fraud lawyer, Watson & Associates, LLC only Takes On Cases That Our False Claims Act Healthcare Fraud Lawyers Believe that They Can Help.

How Our Defense Strategies Provide Peace of Mind

What is The Prosecution’s Biggest Problem in Your HealthCare Fraud Case – Can They Prove You Intended to Defraud the Government?This is where Your Case Gains Traction If You Have the Right Facts: The level of intent you must have in a criminal case – called mens rea, or intent, is probably the most contested issue in a criminal prosecution of a federal healthcare fraud defense case. The government attorney must show that you acted “knowingly” or “intentionally” . Challenging the prosecution’s evidence is where you can potentially win a criminal healthcare fraud case. The level of intent can separate wrongful from innocent conduct.

When we first approach your case, we first plan out legal strategy internally, sift out the kinks and potential pitfalls, plan accordingly, and then after execute our plan of action.  We treat every case as though it were going before a jury. In the False Claims Act statute, this element of HealthCare Fraud is commonly referred to as the “scienter” provision. The U.S. Supreme Court has rightly noted the importance of such provisions in criminal healthcare fraud cases, stating in Ruan v. United States that “[a] strong scienter requirement helps to diminish the risk of ‘overdeterrence,’ i.e., punishing acceptable and beneficial conduct that lies close to, but on the permissible side of the criminal line.

View This Video For Crucial HealthCare Fraud Information

The federal government, its enforcement, and investigative teams are aggressively seeking out companies involved in health care fraud. However, despite protecting the industry from fraud, the government still has a legal obligation to prove its case. Many corporations, providers, and individuals find themselves in the government’s cross hairs through allegations of 18 USC 1347 violation. They don’t know what to do or the next steps to take.

IF YOU'RE READY TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY BOOK A CALL HERE

Envisioning a Future Free from Legal Worries

We help you to fight the prosecutor’s evidence of your intent – this is how we get traction on your case. 

When healthcare pharmacies defend allegations under the FalseClaims Act (FCA), 31 USC 3729 et seq,  the FCA permits private parties to bring lawsuits in the name of the United States Government against healthcare companies that allegedly have defrauded the Federal Government. These lawsuits under 31 USC 3730 (b), and imposed liability on anyone who “knowingly” submits a “false” claim to the Government under 31 USC 3729(a).

How Does Proving You Lacked the Intent to Defraud Help Your HealthCare Fraud Case?

The US Supreme Court in Ruan and United States ex. rel. Schutte v. SuperValu  ruled that the FCA’s scienter element refers to a criminal defendant’s knowledge and subjective beliefs—not to what an objectively reasonable person may have known or believed.

The False Claims Act in a government procurement or healthcare fraud case sets out a three-part definition of the term “knowingly” that largely tracks the traditional common-law scienter requirement for claims of fraud: Actual knowledge, deliberate ignorance, or recklessness will suffice. See §3729(b)(1)(A). Each term focuses on what the defendant thought and believed: “Actual knowledge” refers to what the defendant is aware of. “Deliberate ignorance” encompasses defendants who are aware of a substantial risk that their statements are false, but intentionally avoid taking steps to confirm the statements’ truth or falsity. And “[r]eckless disregard” captures defendants who are conscious of a substantial and unjustifiable risk that their claims are false, but submit the claims anyway.

The Risks of Inaction: Consequences of Not Securing Expert Defense

When the prosecution brings a case against you, our healthcare fraud defense lawyers know to focus on what a defendant thought when submitting a claim—not what you may have thought after submitting it. The US Supreme Court has ruled that What matters for an FCA case is whether you knew the claim was false. Only when you secure health care fraud defense attorneys with the skill to plan for effective results, can you secure a better chance of prevailing.

This means that if interpreted the relevant phrase correctly and believed your claims were false, then you could have known their claims were false.

When contractors, companies, doctors or pharmacies are facing federal charges for Medicaid fraud or healthcare fraud our FCA lawyers can help. We build a team to aggressively fight back. 

IMMEDIATELY REDUCE THE CHANCE OF JAIL TIME OR HUGE FINES - DOWNLOAD FREE HEALTH CARE FRAUD DEFENSE CHECKLIST

Constitutional Defense in Federal Government Contract Fraud and HealthCare Fraud Cases – Usually Overlooked – However, Our Health Care Fraud Lawyers Protect Your Rights

When the government investigates fraud allegations—whether in government contracts, healthcare billing, or procurement fraud—they often push legal boundaries to build their case. Many defense attorneys focus only on the criminal or regulatory aspects of these charges. However, constitutional violations are often the key to dismantling the prosecution’s case, and this is where our firm stands apart.

Federal agencies frequently obtain evidence through search warrants, subpoenas, and surveillance, but these methods are not always legally sound. If investigators exceed the scope of a warrant, seize protected business records, or conduct unlawful searches and seizures, they may have violated your Fourth Amendment rights. Evidence obtained improperly can often be challenged and suppressed, significantly weakening the case against you.

Unlike other firms that only understand the criminal and regulatory aspects of fraud cases, our team includes constitutional lawyers who analyze every detail of how evidence was gathered. We scrutinize whether the government relied on unlawful wiretaps, forced statements, or overbroad document seizures—critical mistakes that could lead to case dismissals or reduced charges.

If you are being investigated or charged with fraud, do not assume the government followed the law in building its case. A single constitutional violation could change the outcome of your case. Contact our firm today to discuss how we can protect your rights and your future. Speak to Theodore Watson. Call 1.866.601.5518.