Maryland False Claims Act Lawyers Defense Attorneys

Watson & Associates, LLC Criminal Court Lawyers Aggressively Provide False Claims Act Defense For Federal Contractors and Healthcare Defendants in Maryland.

If you are targeted in a criminal investigation, you cannot afford to wait to see how the case develops. Even if you a presented with a Civil Investigative Demand (CID), from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) or Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in a healthcare fraud case, you need to get fraud defense attorneys on you team immediately. Government investigations and the targeting of CEO’s not only put your reputation at risk but the company’s bottom line in jeopardy. See  18 U.S.C. § 286, 18 U.S.C. § 287, 31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq. 

 

If you received a target letter or subpoena from the OIG, HHS, OIG or FBI, call our Healthcare fraud defense and government contractor whistleblower attorneys at 1.866.601.5518 today.  Speak to Lead Counsel Theodore Watson.

How We Can Help You Defend Your False Claims Act Case?

Two essential elements of an FCA violation are (1) the falsity of the claim and (2) the defendant’s knowledge of the claim’s falsity. See U.S. ex rel. Schutte v. SuperValu Inc. The government prosecutors will have to show that you have the scienter required by the FCA and that you correctly understood that standard and thought that your submitted claims were inaccurate. You must know your claim to be false.

The Federal False Claims Act – What You Should Know

The Federal False Claims Act focuses on contractors, healthcare providers, corporations, and individuals who attempt to get grants, contracts, or payment for services, either directly or indirectly. If you are found to have “knowingly” submitted a claim, or caused a claim to be submitted with the intent to get paid or receive a benefit, the Department of Justice (DOJ), FBI, DHHS, or OIG can bring civil or criminal False Claims Act charges against you.

Toll Free 1.866.601.5518

The level of knowledge needed to submit a false claim may be either actual knowledge or the failure to conduct reasonable due diligence. Simply recklessly disregarding the factors if the prosecutor shows that you should have known about the false claim can result in serious civil and/or criminal charges.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE FALSE CLAIMS ACT DEFENSE CHECKLIST HERE

Government Contracting Fraud Defense Lawyers in Maryland

Watson’s government contractor fraud lawyers and criminal court attorneys have over 30 years of federal contracting and procurement experience with the violations that often arise in government contracting fraud cases. This includes bid rigging, kickbacks, price fixing, product substitution, Trade Agreements Act (TAA Compliance), Buy American Act (BAA) compliance fraud, and SBA small business programs (8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB). Common issues that can lead to government contracting fraud include, but are not limited to:

• Falsifying information on contract proposals
• Using Federal funds to purchase items that are not for Government use
• Billing more than one contract for the same work
• Billing for expenses not incurred as part of the contract
• Billing for work that was never performed
• Falsifying data
• Substituting approved materials with unauthorized products
• Misrepresenting a project’s status to continue receiving Government funds
• Charging higher rates than those stated or negotiated for in the bid or contract; and
• Influencing government employees to award a grant or contract to a particular company, family member, or friend.

Federal procurement regulations are very complex. Therefore, when the prosecutors come after you for government contracting fraud, you must have someone on board who understands the rules.

Legal Representation With Cases Also Involving:

• Conspiracy to Commit Fraud
• Wire Fraud 
• Mail Fraud

Maryland Health Care Fraud Criminal Defense Lawyers 

The health care industry is convoluted with complex regulations, regulations governing treatment and billing. Sometimes, professionals and industry organizations can get caught in the crosshairs of a healthcare fraud case.

Health care fraud schemes in Maryland are diverse and vary in complexity, targeting both public and private health insurance plans. Health fraud schemes can include:

• Medical billing fraud – billing for medical services not rendered
• Billing for health care services not medically necessary
• Double billing for services provided
• Upcoding (e.g., billing for a more highly reimbursed service or product than the one provided)
• Unbundling (e.g., billing separately for groups of laboratory tests performed together in order to get a higher reimbursement)
• Fraudulent cost reporting by institutional providers

Other common healthcare fraud schemes involve receiving kickbacks in return for referring patients or influencing the provision of healthcare. The anti-kickback statute prohibits the payment of kickbacks to induce the referral of services paid for by federal healthcare programs. Kickbacks corrupt healthcare providers’ decision-making, placing profit above patient welfare.

Being investigated or indicted for healthcare fraud can stem from inappropriate medical care, including unnecessary hospitalization, surgery, tests, and equipment. At Watson & Associates, LLC, our criminal court lawyers offer experienced healthcare fraud criminal defense attorneys who will promptly examine the issues in the case and aggressively pursue a legal defense.

When facing fraud accusations, consult with a Maryland healthcare fraud attorney and a criminal defense attorney from Watson & Associates, LLC, about protecting your interests. Call (866) 601 5528. or contact us online today.

What is Health Care Fraud?

Healthcare fraud generally refers to intentionally deceiving or defrauding a healthcare program or provider for financial gain. In Maryland, health care fraud is addressed under both state and federal laws, as it involves violations of federal programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

Here are some common examples of healthcare fraud:

• Medical Billing Fraud: This involves intentionally submitting false claims or manipulating billing codes with the intent of receiving payment for services or procedures that were not provided or were medically unnecessary. 

• Kickbacks and Illegal Referrals for Medical Care in Maryland: Offering or receiving payments, kickbacks, or incentives in exchange for patient referrals, services, or purchases. Examples include paying or receiving illegal payments in exchange for referring patients to specific providers or for using certain medical products or services (i.e., kickbacks), as well as physicians referring patients to facilities or services that share financial interests, violating anti-kickback and self-referral laws.

• Prescription Fraud: Illegally getting, distributing, or prescribing prescription drugs. Examples include forging prescriptions or altering existing prescriptions (i.e., prescription forgery), as well as clinics or physicians prescribing and dispensing excessive amounts of controlled substances without legitimate medical needs (i.e., pill mills).

• Falsifying Medical Records: Healthcare fraud in Maryland can also include altering or fabricating medical records or documentation to support fraudulent claims or to conceal improper practices.

Watson & Associates’s government contracting fraud and healthcare false claims act attorneys stand by to immediately delve into your specific case and come up with a viable legal defense strategy.

Government Contractor Fraud and Healthcare Fraud Qui Tam Defense Attorneys

Oftentimes, your company could be subject to a whistleblower case where a current or former employee discloses alleged facts that you have comitted fraud against the United States.  As Qui Tam defense attorneys for government contractors and healthcare industry professionals in Maryland, the Watson & Associates, LLC law firm stands ready to aggressively defend investigations and False Claims Act charges for medical billing fraud from the various federal law enforcement agencies.