In 2007, the United States Department of Justice together with the United States Department of Human Services created the Medicare Fraud Strike Force to aggressively targeted all types of medicare fraud. California governmental authorities also have been aggressively pursuing Medicaid fraud. The relevant state and federal laws are complicated and constantly changing, leaving hospitals, physicians, pharmacists, chiropractors, nurses and health care providers vulnerable to governmental investigations and criminal charges. With the government pouring enormous financial and human resources into prosecuting these types of crimes, you cannot afford to stand by while you and your business are being investigated.

Healthcare providers have faced criminal investigations and charges relating to:

• Medicare / Medicaid Fraud
• Overbilling
• Tax fraud
• Internet pharmacy abuses
• Improper solicitation of patients
• Inappropriate contact with patients
• Over prescribing controlled medication
• Billing for services not provided
• Unnecessary procedures
• Duplicate billing
• Adding time to a time-driven bill
• Unnecessary tests
• Insurance Fraud
• Paying of kickbacks

Even minor violations can be severely punished, and may include professional sanctions, jail time and heavy fines.

Patients also have been subjected to criminal investigations and charges relating to:

• Forging an insurance or benefits card
• Permitting another person to use an insurance card
• Forging or altering a prescription for controlled substances
• Re-selling prescription drugs or other materials received from a healthcare provider
• Lying on an application for healthcare benefits.

Many healthcare crimes are charged as felonies, and may result in lengthy periods of incarceration and heavy fines.

If you are facing investigation, arrest, or criminal charges for health care fraud, please contact Anchor Criminal Defense for a free consultation.