Healthcare Fraud Defense Attorney in New Jersey
Healthcare fraud is a serious federal white-collar offense charged when you’re suspected of defrauding a federal healthcare program to obtain benefits or claims payments. Both medical professionals and insurance applicants can be accused of healthcare fraud in NJ district court. Still, most federal healthcare fraud charges involve systemic or high-value claims fraud allegations.
It’s common for U.S. attorneys to charge you with multiple counts of healthcare fraud to strongarm you into accepting a quick plea deal. Do not face federal healthcare fraud charges alone. Retain experienced healthcare fraud crimes defense lawyer Peter Katz in New Jersey immediately.
Overview of Federal Healthcare Fraud Laws
Federal law criminalizes the knowing attempt to defraud any healthcare benefit program, such as Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare, or obtain claims money under false pretenses. You can be charged with multiple counts of healthcare fraud in New Jersey if you falsified information during the insurance application process. This may include financials to obtain Medicaid or Medicare and subsequently obtained payments from these insurers.
Medical professionals or claimants will often be charged with healthcare fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1347(a)(2) for falsifying medical conditions to obtain benefits. This frequently occurs when doctors include inaccurate diagnosis codes to get specific procedures covered or overbill for services they did not adequately provide.
Medical professionals charged with healthcare fraud may even blame you for falsifying symptoms to obtain benefits. In either case, healthcare fraud is a serious offense that can require those convicted to repay health insurance companies for any unlawfully obtained claims payments.
Potential Consequences of Federal Healthcare Fraud Convictions
Healthcare fraud is a felony punishable by substantial fines and imprisonment, even for life. Under 18 U.S.C. § 1347, one count of healthcare fraud could carry up to 10 years imprisonment. If doctors perform unnecessary medical treatments to obtain money and the patient subsequently suffers from a serious bodily injury or dies, offenders can be imprisoned for life.
Healthcare fraud could result in life imprisonment in New Jersey. Do not delay. Contact experienced healthcare fraud defense attorney Peter Katz immediately.
In addition to imprisonment, healthcare fraud can also carry the following penalties:
- Fines
- Restitution
- Asset forfeiture
- Probation
- Ineligibility for federal programs
It also adds a white-collar crime to your criminal record, preventing you from obtaining specific jobs or maintaining many professional certifications. Importantly, healthcare fraud is a particular crime of intent. This means you must knowingly defraud the health insurer.
Federal defense lawyer Peter Katz can show prosecutors that you had no intent to engage in a healthcare fraud scheme. He can also negotiate favorable plea deals for beneficiaries and doctors who technically defrauded health insurers without malicious intent. For example, helping the poverty-stricken obtain treatment rather than defrauding programs for monetary gain.
Contact Dedicated NJ Federal Healthcare Fraud Defense Attorney Peter Katz
Federal health insurance providers are using AI and dedicated algorithms to detect and charge providers with healthcare fraud. This is a serious felony that could drastically impact your freedom and financial situation. If you’ve been charged with one or multiple counts of healthcare fraud in New Jersey, contact healthcare fraud defense lawyer Peter Katz immediately at (609) 849-3179 or online.