Health care fraud is a serious white collar crime in the Long Beach area. Medical professionals – including doctors and nurses – can end up facing harsh legal penalties if they are accused of fraudulent behavior. Simple mistakes or false allegations can lead to jail time and tens of thousands of dollars in fines.
Facing a health care fraud on your own can lead to disaster. You can take charge of your future by contacting a professional health care fraud lawyer in Long Beach as soon as possible. The Simmrin Law Group can provide you with the legal advice you need to boost your odds of beating these charges.
California’s Legal Definition of Health Care Fraud
Individuals who submit false claims for payment can be convicted of health care fraud in Long Beach. Generally, acts of health care fraud are intended to defraud:
- Insurance Companies
- State Government Programs
- Federal Government Programs
Medical professionals could be charged with health care fraud in the court system in Long Beach if they:
- Undercharge and then Overcharge Patients
- Submit False Claims for Services Not Performed
- Double Bill for Services
- Perform Unnecessary Services and Submit Claims for Them
Healthcare workers can also end up in legal trouble if they perform one service but submit a claim for a more expensive service. Any of these actions can lead to years of incarceration and incredibly harsh fines.
Note that individuals can be convicted of health care fraud if they:
- Explicitly Commit Any Fraudulent Action
- Conspire to Commit the Fraud
The court system in Long Beach treats individuals who knew about a fraudulent act and did nothing to stop it as conspiring to commit fraud. Make sure that you know exactly where you stand when facing health care fraud charged by contacting a Long Beach criminal defense lawyer today.
For a free legal consultation with a lawyer serving Long Beach, call (310) 896-2723
Possible Penalties for a Health Care Fraud Conviction
Legally, health care fraud can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. The severity of the charges you face often depends on the amount of money involved in the fraudulent action. Long Beach splits health care fraud charges up into:
Fraudulent Actions Involving Less than $950
Acts of health care fraud involving less than $950 are always treated as misdemeanors. The penalties for a misdemeanor health care fraud conviction involving under $950 include:
- Fines: Up to $1,000
- Jail Time: Up to 6 Months
Fraudulent Actions Involving More than $950
You could be charged with a felony or a misdemeanor for defrauding more than $950. The exact charges you face will depend on your situation. A misdemeanor conviction can lead to:
- Fines: Up to $10,000
- Jail Time: Up to 1 Year
A felony conviction comes with more serious consequences, such as:
- Fines: Up to $50,000 or Twice the Value of the Fraud
- Jail Time: Up to 5 Years
You can work with a professional white collar crime lawyer in Long Beach to build a defense against either misdemeanor or felony health care fraud charges.
Criminal Defense Lawyer Near Me (310) 896-2723
Building a Defense to a Health Care Fraud Charge in Long Beach
Handling health care fraud charges requires experience and legal know-how. You can get professional advice about the charges you are facing from the Simmrin Law Group. Your health care fraud lawyer could be able to build your defense by arguing:
You Did Not Intentionally Commit Health Care Fraud
Most billing in the health care field is handled through computer programs. These computers sometimes make errors that can resemble fraud. You should not be convicted if you acted by accident or if an error led to the billing issue.
You Did Not Know Health Care Fraud Occurred
Health care professionals often see many patients every day. This large workload means that mistakes sometimes happen. Individuals should not face a health care fraud conviction if they mistakenly coded something that was previously billed.
Your health care fraud lawyer can go over your case to determine what defense will work best in your situation.
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Get the Help You Need from a Long Beach Health Care Fraud Lawyer
Health care fraud is a serious criminal act that should be addressed immediately. You can increase your odds for beating accusations of fraud by reaching out to the Simmrin Law Group today. Our team of professional health care fraud lawyers in Long Beach can go over the facts of your case immediately. Contact us by calling (310) 896-2723 or completing our online contact form.
Our team can work hard to defend you in and out of court, starting with a FREE case evaluation.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form