Pennsylvania HealthCare Fraud Lawyers – Criminal Defense
Are You Under Investigation or Indicted for Healthcare Fraud in Pennsylvania? We are Aggressive Medical Billing Fraud Defense and Civil False Claims Act Criminal Defense Attorneys & 18 USC 1347 Pennsylvania Health Care Fraud Criminal Defense Lawyers – Aggressive Legal Representation for Providers, Businesses, and Administrators.
We Can Reach Your Locations Nationwide Including Pennsylvania We Have Offices in: Washington, D.C., Denver Colorado; Dubai; Miami, Florida; Los Angeles, California – United States and International Reach
Are You Under Investigation for Healthcare Fraud In Pennsylvania? We’re Here to Help.
Imagine running your healthcare practice smoothly, only to be blindsided by a federal investigation. Suddenly, you’re under scrutiny for health care fraud, with government agencies combing through your records and demanding explanations.
Whether you’re being investigated or have already been indicted, the pressure is intense. This is where Watson & Associates Pennsylvania healthcare fraud lawyers come in.
The uncertainty is overwhelming. You might wonder how you got here and what steps you should take next. The threat of steep financial penalties for medical billing fraud, exclusion from Medicare or Medicaid, and even federal criminal charges is real. Getting through this situation without the right legal defense can feel impossible, but you don’t have to face it alone. As federal healthcare fraud criminal defense attorneys, we understand the complexity of these types of cases, and we’re prepared to defend your rights and livelihood.
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Nine Individuals Indicted In $28 Million Illegal Opioid Distribution Conspiracy Three Doctors and A Clinic Owner Among Those Indicted(September 20, 2024; U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Michigan)
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Don’t wait until it’s too late. With your career, reputation, and future on the line, having a skilled legal team at your side is critical. Reach out to us today, and let us help you build the most vigorous defense possible.
IMMEDIATELY REDUCE THE CHANCE OF JAIL TIME OR HUGE FINES - DOWNLOAD FREE HEALTH CARE FRAUD DEFENSE CHECKLISTThe 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.
Who We Are and What We Do
The Watson & Associates, LLC focuses on civil and criminal federal cases involving federal procurement and the healthcare industry. Clients can track the progress of their cases, communicate with us, submit documents, and access additional services. Watson & Associates LLC is a law firm with a nationwide reach, serving federal clients from coast to coast and overseas.
Watson & Associates, LLC Offers Pennsylvania Healthcare Fraud Lawyers and False Claims Act Criminal Defense Attorneys – We are Not Afraid to Fight Back on Your Behalf. The Key For You To Prevail is to Act Early and Safeguard Your Legal Defenses Early.
Types of Medical Frauds False Claims Act Health Care Fraud Defense Cases In Pennsylvania Under 18 USC 1347 Our Criminal Defense Attorneys Handle
Government Investigations | False Claims Act Health Care Fraud Defense Strategies | Subpoenas & Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs) | FBI, HHS, Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and DOJ Investigations | False Claims Act criminal Indictments | Medical Frauds and Medical Billing Fraud Defense | Federal Criminal Defense & Trials | Corporate Compliance | Internal Investigations | Health Care Fraud Investigations Defense.
Our Federal Pennsylvania Healthcare Fraud criminal defense attorneys represent Clients in a Variety of Fraud Cases. Suspected health insurance fraud and abuse in healthcare include, but are not limited to:
- Medical Billing for unnecessary medical services
- Billing for services not provided
- False Claims Act healthcare billing more than one contract for the same work under 18 USC 1347
- Upcoding claims – submitting claims that are higher than the level of service provided for higher reimbursement
- Unlicensed medical services and medical insurance fraud
- Medical fraud and false certifications
- Medical billing fraud defense or expenses not incurred as part of the contract
- Falsifying data
- Bribery, kickbacks, gratuities, and conflicts of interest
- Duplicate claims of fraud in the healthcare industry
- Misrepresenting diagnosis or procedure to capitalize on maximum profits
- Unbundling procedures – serrating costs for procedures normally billed as one kind of treatment
- Altering medical records or reports
- Falsifying information on contract proposals
- False Claims Act whistleblower defense
- Medical frauds using Federal funds to purchase items that are not for Government use
- Pennsylvania Healthcare overpayment defense lawyers
- Pennsylvania Healthcare fraud whistleblower defense lawyers
- Influencing government employees to award a grant or contract to a particular company, family member, or friend.
- Receiving kickbacks for any goods or medical services under the Anti kickback Statute
- Medical insurance fraud and Substituting approved materials with unauthorized products
- Misrepresenting a project’s status to continue receiving Government funds
- Medicare fraud defense strategies
- Charging higher rates than those stated or negotiated for in the bid or contract;
- Federal Conspiracy defense See 18 U.S.C. 1349)
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If you’re under investigation or indictment for health care fraud, you need an experienced team of Pennsylvania healthcare fraud lawyers and False Claims Act criminal defense attorneys who understand the complexity of your case and can act quickly to protect your rights. When you are staring down the barrel of Medicare fraud, False Claims Act violations and Anti-Kickback Statute charges, the key to prevailing is to immediately deal with the issue and start compiling a team for your legal defense.
We offer rapid legal intervention to prevent escalations and minimize penalties, from avoiding exclusion from Medicare programs to keeping your medical license intact.
Our personalized defense strategies are tailored to your unique circumstances, ensuring you receive the focused attention your case deserves.
When facing the possibility of steep fines or even jail time, don’t wait. Contact our office today for a confidential consultation and let us help protect your career, reputation, and freedom.
Our approach is very simple in federal health care fraud cases. Every client deserves honesty and professional legal service.
We believe that every client should know what he or she potentially faces and the outcome of their criminal defense case – before hiring a criminal defense attorney. Our Pennsylvania healthcare criminal defense lawyers have experience handling criminal defense cases nationwide. We bring an attorney onboard specifically from your area.
We don’t just represent clients that have the resources but we only take clients that we believe we can help. This means the possibility of getting charges dropped or better negotiated.
We are selective about the number of healthcare defense clients we work with and only work with clients with whom we can truly help. This differs from other law firms, who take on every client – irrespective of the outcome.
Essential Things You Should Know
What is Health Care Fraud?
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 key to defending a 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 lawyers and Pennsylvania healthcare fraud lawyers and criminal defense attorneys at our law firm can help.
- bribery,
- kickbacks,
- gratuities, and
- conflicts of interest
Penalties for 18 USC 1347 Health Care Fraud
A violation of 18 USC 1347 for federal health care fraud is punishable by:
- a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and/or
- the imposition of a fine
However, if your violation results in serious bodily injury to any individual, the maximum confinement time is increased to 20 years.
If the violation results in death, the maximum punishment increases in federal prison.
18 USC Section 1349 provides that a conspiracy to commit health care fraud may be punished in the same fashion as the fraud itself, so the maximum punishments would be:
- 10 years, 20 years, or life in federal prison, depending on if the enhancements for injury or death are applicable
Tip: The knowledge that the fraudulent conduct is illegal, much less knowledge of the specific provision of federal law that prohibits health care fraud, is not required for a conviction under these sections.
If the defendant knows that the statements or representations they made to obtain money or services through a federal healthcare benefit program are fraudulent, that is enough to convict regardless of whether the defendant understood that their conduct was illegal.
How Do You Defend Against a Health Care Fraud Case?
How to fight federal health care fraud allegations in Pennsylvania. – this is what we do: How can we defend against false claims and health care fraud? To successfully prevail or win a medical fraud case, you first have to consider the best legal defenses. There are several potential legal defenses to federal health care fraud charges, including :
- Lack of Intent or Mistake
- Insufficient Evidence
- Compliance Program
- Consent
Avoid Common Mistakes During Health Care Fraud Investigations & Common Mistakes to Avoid
Healthcare fraud investigations get started in some very disturbing but legal ways. For example, expect that in large medical fraud cases, the government will storm in and seize your computers, laptops, desktops, and mobile devices (all hopefully through a valid search warrant). Cases involving health care fraud have significant paper trails. The government then copies all of the information and then goes through your files to look for information to prove their case.
Tip: Never think that if you speak the truth, everything will be fine (this does not mean to tell lies). Health care fraud agents are not your friends and want to get you to confess to something you may or may not have done. Healthcare investigators may try to twist your words because oftentimes, the interviews are not recorded. Maintaining your silence is the preferred response.
Tip: Similarly, another mistake you want to avoid is convincing yourself that because you have nothing to hide, you should disclose information. This can become the kiss of death. The best thing people can do is to be quiet and call a defense attorney.
These are Real 18 USC 1347 Health Care Fraud Cases – You Do Not Want to Be Added to This List Below – Call Our False Claims Act Criminal Defense Attorneys and Pennsylvania Healthcare Fraud Defense Lawyers Immediately at 1.866.601.5518 OR book a call at the link below.
Watson’s Pennsylvania Health Care Fraud Lawyers and False Claims Act Criminal Defense Attorneys Serve Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading, Scranton, Bethlehem, Lancaster, Levittown, Harrisburg PA, Altoona, York, State College, Wilkes-Barre, Norristown PA, Chester and surrounding metro areas.
Practice Lead
Call our healthcare qui tam defense attorneys and Pennsylvania federal healthcare fraud criminal defense lawyers today for a Free Initial Consultation at 1.866.601.5518. Speak Directly to Theodore Watson. Top Pennsylvania False Claims Act healthcare fraud criminal defense lawyers and False Claims Act criminal defense attorneys. for small businesses and large corporations nationwide.
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We can handle federal cases in almost every state.
Risk Free Consultation
GETTING YOUR INVESTIGATION AND OR / CASE UNDER CONTROL IS CRITICAL – THE LONGER YOU WAIT TO ACT, THE LESS NEGOTIATION POWER YOU HAVE AND THE MORE LEVERAGE FEDERAL PROSECUTORS HAVE
If you are at the investigation stage, you cannot afford to wait to see how the “case plays out.” By then, the prosecution had already been targeting you for quite some time. You are now faced with playing catch-up to protect your rights. Hiring healthcare fraud criminal defense lawyers that are affordable and yet focused can be a challenge. Watson & Associates, LLC is here to help.
Are you wondering how to defend against False Claims Act health care fraud in Pennsylvania? Our MI health care fraud attorneys can help. We consistently develop a nationwide team of medical billing fraud and general medical fraud attorneys to help clients avoid criminal liability.
Who Are Our Clients
The Watson & Associates, LLC Defense Law Firm Provides Nationwide Criminal Defense Attorneys and Pennsylvania HealthCare Fraud defense Lawyers for Providers, Hospitals, Pharmaceutical Companies, Licensed Pharmacists and Pharmacies, Manufacturers, and More.
If you are being investigated or received a civil investigative demand or subpoena from DHHS, DOJ, FBI, or some other federal law enforcement agency, do not waste time trying to see “how the case goes.” Call of False Claims Act health care fraud attorneys immediately at 1.866.601.5518.
See the video below to get more critical information defense tips:
Under the Inspector General Act of 1978, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG) is responsible for conducting criminal investigations into fraud, waste, and abuse involving HHS programs, including HHS contracts.
A false claims or health care fraud case in Pennsylvania can start with a simple mistake, unintentional medical billing errors, or some other error. The government must prove intent to defraud. As your medical defense attorney, we build a solid defense team of healthcare fraud attorneys to fight back and force the federal government to dismiss or settle the matters.
Have You Been Served With a Civil Investigative Demand (CID)?
Federal law enforcement agencies use different approaches to investigate healthcare fraud or health insurance fraud. Typically, prosecutors will allege False Claims Act Health Care Fraud violations and will issue you a Civil Investigative Demand (CID), or a subpoena in a Pennsylvania criminal case. The CID is used up front to force you to provide a multitude of documents to the government. However, having a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) defense lawyer to help sift through the documents or testimony that can incriminate you is essential.
Our Pennsylvania healthcare fraud criminal defense lawyers and federal False Claims Act criminal defense attorneys help you minimize your exposure to criminal or civil liability cases involving violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, the False Claims Act, and Stark Law.
At Watson & Associates, LLC, our criminal healthcare fraud attorneys represent and defend Pennsylvania companies and individuals nationwide under 18 USC 1347. We aim to dispel any weaknesses in the government’s case, from healthcare fraud investigations to indictments and trials.
What Are Examples of Health Care Fraud?
Examples of common healthcare False Claims Act fraud charges may include:
- Falsifying certificates of medical necessity in order to bill services
- Upcoding and unbundling
- Falsifying plans of treatment or medical records to justify payments
- Prescribing medically unnecessary compounded pain and scar creams and other expensive medications
- Misrepresenting diagnoses or procedures to maximize payments
- Soliciting “kickbacks” for the provision of various services or goods
- Falsifying claims
- Medical billing fraud
- Unlawful prescribing and dispensing prescription drug orders
What are The Most Common Federal Healthcare Fraud Charges?
As part of the healthcare industry, you can be exposed to civil and criminal statutes governing business. See some of the common ones below. You can be demanded to respond to either a false claims act or a civil investigation demand for healthcare fraud.
Pennsylvania Criminal Federal Health Care Fraud Lawyers
(18 USC 1347) – To prove criminal health. care fraud, federal prosecutors must show that you knowingly and purposefully 1) executed a scheme to defraud a healthcare benefit program or 2) used false statements to obtain funds held by federal healthcare programs (Medicare, Medicaid).
Anti-Kickback Statute
(42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b) – To prove criminal anti-kickback charges, the government must provide evidence that you knowingly and purposefully 1) offered or received anything of value and 2) it induced or rewarded referral of Medicare or Medicaid business.
False Claims Act – (18 U.S.C. § 287) –
False Claims Act – (31 U.S.C. § 3729) .
Stark Law – 42 U.S.C. § 1395nn, 42 CFR Subpart J)
Health Care Fraud Conspiracy – (18 U.S.C. § 1349)
Wire and Mail Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1341, 18 U.S.C. § 1343)
Is It Worth Opening Yourself to Jail Time or Paying $1.9 Million to Settle Allegations of Medical Billing Fraud? Our Pennsylvania federal healthcare fraud defense lawyers can Help. See this Case.
What are the Penalties for Federal Health Care Fraud?
If you are convicted under the False Claims Act for health care fraud, you can be sentenced to up to life in prison and fined $250,000. However, the penalties for healthcare fraud can depend on the specific statute charged, the dollar value of the loss to the government, and a number of case-specific factors.
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Help Responding to Federal Healthcare Fraud False Claims Act Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs) and Subpoenas in Pennsylvania
How to defend against False Claims Act Healthcare fraud criminal charges: A large portion of Pennsylvania healthcare fraud cases stems from allegations that medical providers or healthcare businesses (labs, pharmacies, hospitals, and home healthcare agencies) submitted fraudulent medical billing claims. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or DOJ or some other law enforcement agency may serve you with a civil investigative demand (CID) or subpoena (in criminal cases).
As Pennsylvania healthcare fraud criminal defense lawyers and False Claims Act criminal defense attorneys, we look at documents to see if there are potential opportunities to get the investigation thrown out. Most healthcare fraud false claims act cases focus on what could be a medical billing error and not the government’s allegations that your healthcare service lacked medical necessity, was outside the accepted standards of care (e.g., excessive testing), was billed too high, or was billed for but not provided.
Our Pennsylvania healthcare fraud defense attorneys will aggressively help respond to civil investigative demands and or Grand jury subpoenas issued by the agency or Department of Justice (DOJ).
When Clients Have the Resources, We Immediately Build a Team of Aggressive Healthcare Enforcement Action Defense Attorneys
Watson’s Pennsylvania healthcare fraud lawyers offer white-collar defense, litigation, and investigation defense when there is a healthcare enforcement action or indictment issued. Our healthcare fraud defense lawyers help clients conduct internal investigations when the is a civil investigative demand or subpoena issued in a criminal case.
As healthcare enforcement action defense attorneys, we represent clients nationwide in federal health care fraud investigation and prosecution litigation. The Criminal and Civil Divisions launch these investigative actions at the Department of Justice (DOJ), US Attorneys’ Offices, the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services HHS, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Call our Pennsylvania healthcare fraud defense lawyers and False Claims Act criminal defense attorneys for immediate help.
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Another aspect of health care fraud that triggers False Claims Act defense lawyers to aggressively defend civil and criminal cases is the unlawful distribution of Adderall pills. Federal prosecutors will often claim that you initiated a scheme to distribute Adderall and other stimulants over the Internet and that you prescribed Adderall, fentanyl, and other stimulants to individuals suffering from drug addiction.
18 US Code 287 Medicare Fraud Defense Attorney
Pennsylvania Healthcare fraud lawyers for individuals or companies investigated or charged with Federal False Claims Act violations: Medicare professionals can often face false claims and criminal investigations for healthcare fraud charges for phantom medical billing fraud, and up-coding. Receiving a subpoena and civil investigative demand can create stress and confusion in Medicare fraud defense cases. Our Medicare fraud defense attorneys and healthcare enforcement action criminal defense lawyers can help.
Under 18 US Code 287, where many medicare fraud defense cases arise, you cannot make inaccurate or fraudulent claims against the United States or any of its agencies. This includes making false statements to the Medicaid and Medicare programs. You should also be aware of 18 US Code 1001 which makes it unlawful to provide materially false or fraudulent statements or documents concerning any matter within the jurisdiction of the federal government.
WATCH THIS VIDEO IF YOU ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION, INDICTED / CHARGED, OR FACING TRIAL FOR FALSE CLAIMS ACT – GET CRITICAL INFORMATION TO HELP YOU GET YOUR DEFENSE STARTED.
Medical Billing Fraud Defense Attorney
Some of the more common forms of medical billing fraud occur when there is upcoding, unbundling, and billing for services that were not provided.
There are many other types of health care fraud schemes. At Watson & Associates, LLC our medical billing fraud defense lawyers and Pennsylvania healthcare criminal defense lawyers will work with you or your organization, bring in the experts to analyze, and plan for your legal defense.
If you are subjected to a Qui Tam or Whistleblower case for medical billing fraud our 18 US Code 287 federal medical fraud lawyers are ready to provide immediate help.
Speak with Lead health care fraud lawyer Theodore P. Watson today for immediate help. Call 1.866.601.5518.
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Contact Our Federal False Claims Act & Pennsylvania HealthCare Fraud Defense Lawyers for Immediate Help
Protect Your Future with Watson & Associates’ 18 USC 1347 Pennsylvania False Claims Act healthcare fraud lawyers: For a confidential, no-cost initial consultation with one of our federal healthcare fraud defense lawyers, contact the best criminal defense lawyers and medicare fraud, healthcare medical billing fraud defense lawyers at Watson & Associates. Call 1-866-601-5518. Your defense, from coast to coast. Speak Directly to Theodore Watson.