When someone lies to the federal government about health care services they have provided to receive Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement, this is a form of fraud. Whistleblowers may be able to obtain financial compensation for reporting this type of activity to the authorities.
Learn more today by speaking with a Columbia Medicare and Medicaid fraud whistleblower lawyer. Our team of experienced and determined whistleblower attorneys could help with the filing process and protect your rights.
When an individual reports fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid activity, it helps the government achieve two primary goals. First, being aware of fraud can allow the authorities to attempt to recover stolen money. Second, it disincentivizes healthcare providers to try and cheat the system. A Columbia lawyer could help their client submit the proper documentation to blow the whistle on Medicare and Medicaid fraud.
The potential financial rewards for reporting fraud can be significant. The amount that a whistleblower could receive is based on the case’s success and how much money is retrieved. On the low end, a person could end up obtaining 15% of what the government recovers, but in some cases, they could be awarded up to 30%.
The most common form of Medicare and Medicaid fraud is overbilling. This occurs when a party submits a bill and lies about the procedure that took place, the equipment used, or the amount of money they are owed. For example, they could claim that they completed a complicated procedure when, in reality, it was very simple.
Other Medicare and Medicaid fraud forms include upcoding, phantom billing, and unbundling. Upcoding is when a provider claims that a level of service is much more extensive or complex than it was. In phantom billing, parties may bill for tests or services that were never actually performed.
Unbundling happens when a provider submits multiple bills for a single service by breaking it up. This goes against Medicare and Medicaid rules if the procedure should have been billed under a single code.
A kickback occurs anytime someone provides compensation, whether in the form of money or something else, to another person or entity in order to receive favorable treatment.
There are many legal terms and processes that require extensive knowledge in the field of whistleblowing claims. Without this understanding, a person’s chances of obtaining compensation could be limited. A whistleblower lawyer in Columbia could protect their client’s rights and liberties while filing a Medicare or Medicaid fraud claim, ensuring they are secure and protected throughout the process.
When you have inside knowledge of a healthcare party’s fraudulent activity, you have the right to file a whistleblower claim. Rather than trying to navigate the complex legalities on your own, consider working with a Columbia Medicare and Medicaid fraud whistleblower lawyer.
Our team is here to ensure you file your claim correctly and are protected throughout the process. Schedule an initial consultation with our law office today to discuss your potential case for compensation.