Nursing homes in Charleston often rely on a combination of state and federal funding programs to pay their bills. Unfortunately, the temptation to submit false records or inaccurate reports can become overwhelming in the need to make a profit. This can result in instances of fraud that violate state or federal laws.
In many situations, the government relies on private citizens to come forward with information about these instances of fraud. Those who come forward are protected under the law, and may be able to claim a reward.
A Charleston nursing home fraud lawyer may be able to help you if you have witnessed instances of fraud. This could include performing a full investigation into the incident, submitting comprehensive information to the government, and demanding appropriate compensation for your service as a whistleblower.
Many nursing homes in the Charleston area receive a significant portion of their funding from the federal government. Usually, this involves payments from Medicare or Medicaid connected to the bills of their residents. Like in any other situation involving payments from the government, parties have an obligation under the law to provide accurate demands for compensation.
A clear example of this is the False Claims Act. According to 31 United States Code § 3729, it is against the law for any party to knowingly submit a false claim for payment. Examples as applied to nursing homes may include:
Parties may report violations of this law to the appropriate government agency. By doing so, they can demand a reward through a writ of Qui Tam. Under 31 United States Code § 3730(c)(5), the resulting reward can be between 15 and 25 percent of the funds that the government recovers in the case. A Charleston nursing home fraud attorney could provide more information about the relevant federal laws.
At the same time, an attorney could help to protect people against any potential retaliation. Especially when a whistleblower comes forward to report their own employer, it is understandable to fear some form of reprisal. Even though retaliation against a whistleblower is illegal, employers may still attempt to intimidate or otherwise dissuade individuals from coming forward. A Charleston nursing home protection attorney could work to defend a person’s right to serve in this important role.
All nursing homes in the Charleston area must follow the appropriate federal laws. This includes properly filing claims for payment as well as not defrauding their residents. If you believe that fraud has occurred that violates federal law, you have the choice to come forward as a whistleblower.
A Charleston nursing home fraud lawyer is here to help guide you through this process. This may include developing your suspicions into fact, submitting comprehensive reports with the relevant regulator agencies, and seeking out fair compensation through a writ of Qui Tam. Contact an whistleblower attorney in Charleston today to learn more.
