Health Care Fraud Lawyer Minneapolis, MN

State and federal prosecutors pursue criminal charges against individuals suspected of making false or fraudulent claims against health care programs or agencies. Such claims may constitute a serious criminal offense as they can squander public funds. As a result, the government vigorously pursues cases against individuals accused of health care fraud.

If you’ve been charged with health care fraud, you need experienced legal guidance to help you seek a favorable resolution to your situation. Contact Mauzy Law Office, P.A., today for an initial case evaluation with a criminal defense attorney to discuss your options for protecting your rights, reputation, and freedom from the potential consequences of an arrest or conviction on health care fraud charges.

Understanding Health Care Fraud

Health care fraud occurs when a person engages in fraudulent activity in connection with the delivery of health care services or benefits to obtain some improper monetary gain from a government health care benefit program, such as Medicare or Medicaid. Common examples of actions that can constitute health care fraud include:

Billing for services that a patient never received
Upcoding (billing for a more expensive procedure or service than provided)
Unbundling (billing under multiple codes for a procedure or service that falls under a single code)
Submitting false diagnoses to justify unnecessary medical treatment
Offering or accepting kickbacks
Falsifying medical or prescription records

Who Can Face Prosecution for Health Care Fraud?

Various parties involved with the health care system may face investigation and prosecution for fraudulent activity, including:

Patients or health plan beneficiaries
Doctors and other health care professionals
Clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or other medical facilities
Medical billing companies

State and Federal Health Care Fraud Charges

Parties who allegedly defraud Minnesota’s medical assistance programs may face prosecution under state criminal law. A person may commit a crime under Minnesota law if they, with the intent to defraud, present a reimbursement claim, cost report, or rate application for the payment of medical assistance funds that contains false information, as such an offense constitutes an attempt to commit theft of public funds.

A person may face federal prosecution for health care fraud if they knowingly and willfully execute or attempt to execute a scheme to:

Defraud a health care benefit program
Obtain any money or property owned by or under the control of a health care benefit program by false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises

Specific acts of health care fraud can also lead to prosecution under the federal anti-kickback law, which prohibits:

Providing, attempting to provide, or offering to give a kickback
Soliciting, accepting, or attempting to accept a kickback
Including the amount of a kickback in a contract price

Federal law defines a “kickback” as any money, fee, commission, credit, gift, gratuity, or thing of value provided improperly to obtain or reward favorable treatment under a contract with a federal government agency or program.

Potential Penalties for Health Care Fraud

Penalties imposed for a health care fraud conviction will depend on the nature of the charges. A conviction under Minnesota state criminal law may result in a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $20,000, or both imprisonment and a fine for an offense involving more than $2,500. An offense involving $2,500 or less may result in a sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

A conviction under the federal health care fraud statute can result in a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine, or both. However, if a health care fraud offense results in severe injury, the penalty increases to 20 years, and if the offense results in death, a district court can impose a prison term of any number of years, up to life imprisonment.

Violations of the federal anti-kickback statute can result in a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine, or both.

People who engage in health care fraud may also face civil penalties under the Minnesota or federal False Claims Act, which imposes financial liability for submitting false claims to government programs or agencies.

Defending Against Health Care Fraud Charges

A person facing criminal charges relating to health care fraud may pursue various defenses against the prosecution’s case, such as:

Lack of Intent – A defendant may argue that they did not intend to engage in fraudulent activity in connection with obtaining health care services or benefits.
Billing Errors or Clerical Mistakes – Parties facing prosecution for health care fraud may claim that false statements on health care claims occurred due to good faith errors or clerical mistakes.
No Fraudulent Activity – A defendant may present evidence to show that a claimed procedure or service occurred or to medically justify the procedure or service.
Unlawfully Obtained Evidence or Statements – Defendants may try to have evidence excluded from the prosecution’s case by showing that investigators obtained it through an unlawful search.

How Can a Criminal Defense Attorney Help You?

When you come under investigation for health care fraud or law enforcement officials arrest you, a criminal defense attorney from Mauzy Law Office, P.A., can help you pursue a favorable resolution to your case by:

Thoroughly investigating the allegations to obtain all available evidence
Vigorously advocating on your behalf at each step, including prearrest and pretrial, to secure an efficient resolution of your charges
Providing tailored legal advice to help you make informed decisions about how to respond to your health care fraud case
Challenging the prosecution’s case from every possible angle to fight for a favorable outcome

Why Choose Our Defense Firm?

After prosecutors bring health care fraud charges against you, hiring experienced legal counsel can give you the best chance of a favorable outcome to your case. Choose a criminal defense lawyer from Mauzy Law Office, P.A., to help you resolve health care fraud charges because:

Our firm has over 30 years of legal experience representing clients in complex criminal cases. We have earned a proven track record of success in over 100 trials in state and federal courts.
Attorney William Mauzy holds board certifications in criminal trial litigation from the Minnesota State Bar Association and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He has also earned recognition from legal peers, including listings in Best Lawyers in America and Top 10 Lawyers in Minnesota. He was also selected as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, an honor conferred upon the top one percent of litigators in the country. Attorney Mauzy has also appeared in print and television media, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CBS, CNN, NBC, ABC, and FOX.
When you turn to our firm for help facing health care fraud charges, you can expect us to represent you with aggressive legal advocacy to help you resolve your case as early as possible with the best possible outcome under the circumstances so you can move forward with your life.

Contact Us Today to Discuss Your Legal Options

When prosecutors investigate or charge you with health care fraud, don’t wait to speak with a criminal defense attorney about your options. Contact Mauzy Law Office, P.A., today for a confidential consultation to learn how our firm will fight to protect your rights and interests as you face prosecution for health care fraud.