Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Reporting: 5 Things You Need To Know

Medicaid fraud reporting can result in your reward. Following are several things to keep an eye out for.

1. Medicaid and Medicare fraud happen on a very broad scale. Medicare is a health insurance program that is funded by the government and which provides 46 million disabled and elderly Americans with health care. Each year the government pays out Medicare benefits of almost half a trillion dollars. Unfortunately, numerous unethical individuals have found a variety of ways to steal these public monies and as a result of this the government now pays out approximately $60 billion annually in fraudulent Medicare claims.

2. There is a vast number of ways in which people commit Medicaid and Medicare fraud. Some examples of these fraudulent activities include charging for supplies and services that have not been rendered, unnecessary billing for services, making generic drug substitutions, double billing, kickbacks and a host of additional billings that are unauthorized.

3. You can take part in the fight against these crimes by assisting in Medicare and Medicaid fraud reporting. It is vital for recipients of Medicaid and Medicare to review their invoices to determine whether or not these billings include supplies and services that have not be rendered. When receiving health care services, it is always best to write down the calendar dates of services and to retain copies of statements and receipts that health care providers issue you in order to make certain that billing errors are not present. You can make comparisons of these documents to the Medicare and Medicaid statements you have received. This ultimately ensures that neither Medicaid nor you have been billed for supplies and services that were not remitted.

4. Medicare and Medicaid fraud reporting could lead to you becoming the recipient of an award. The False Claims Act (Sections 3729 of 31 U.S.C) allows for incentives for "whistleblowing" in order to encourage Medicaid fraud reporting from private recipients. This Act additionally enables people who know of current or past incidents of Medicaid fraud to take legal action on behalf of the state government in order to recover damages and civil penalties. These "whistleblower" incentives allow for the award of up to 30% of the proceeds that are recovered.

5. Medicare and Medicaid fraud reporting is the specialty of PHMY attorneys, as are whistleblower lawsuits. Our attorneys can successfully manage your whistleblower lawsuit from its beginning to its end. We are aware of how and where to file such claims and have a vast number of federal contacts for the effective prosecution of your case. Fighting fraudulent Medicaid claims is what we do and we are ready to invest the resources and time that is necessary for winning your whistleblower case.

Prichard Hawkins McFarland & Young is located in San Antonio, Texas. The attorneys of this firm are committed to representing companies and private citizens, throughout the United States, who want to assist the government (and the rest of us) in combating fraud. PHMY has a wide range of experience and expertise intax fraud, healthcare fraud,Qui Tam litigation, and much more!

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Is Hiring an Attorney Worth the Investment?

In a broken economy like the one we live in today it is sometimes easier to let problems slide by as you can't imagine having the time or money to call for an attorney. What many people neglect to think about is the net-loss the event will actually have over a month, a year, or a lifetime. The importance of planning ahead will be the key to a successful future and with the assistance of an attorney to claim what is already yours you can let your mind, and your wallet, breathe for a change.

Each case varies in the worth that will be received through a lawyer's attempt to gain the deserved compensation. Whether your injury or claim involves a mild car crash or an act of medical malpractice there most definitely will be out of pocket immediate or future expenses. People are quick to file their claim without thinking about all the relevant costs that you had to put forth and all the future doctor visits that may come with an accident. As insurance companies will immediately notify you to file a claim, a lawyer will investigate further to be sure your wallet won't move an inch. When investing in a lawyer to examine your scenario you're more so opening the doors needed to claim the money that is owed to you in exchange for your time, health, and out of pocket payments.

One might question the hiring of an attorney to deal with the situation when they are already strapped for money and find much more relief in getting the claim dealt with immediately. Why spend more time with paperwork and legal matters when you have just been in a stressful situation? If you are privy to spending money that should be yours in small doses for weeks, months, or years then don't inquire about a lawyer. Lawyers are determined on making sure that after the week or two of their service you will be receiving reimbursements and free of future related expenses. They are available for individuals looking to invest in their future and have no regrets about their past expenses.

Since problems can arise at any given hours, lawyers make themselves available to you during convenient times. Simply laying the scenario out for a lawyer can help you draw up an estimate of how much you will actually reap from the investment. Spend a little time today, and save a lot of money later.

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How to Choose a Law Speciality

The law changes on a daily basis, affected by government policy, judicial rulings and a number of other factors. As a qualified solicitor - either newly qualified or already experienced - it would be impossible to keep abreast of every kind of legal ruling and stay up to date on the statute book.

It is important, then, that every legal practitioner chooses a speciality, and that includes paralegals. This allows the professional to concentrate on one area, stay on top of all the changes that inevitably occur and provide a good service to his or her clients. The trick is choosing the right speciality that will both be enjoyable and that the solicitor will be good at.

There are many areas of law that one can specialise in. Here we will look at some of those available and what type of person they might suit.

Conveyancing

This is the practice of assisting home buyers in purchasing new homes. It involves a lot of paperwork, due diligence and reporting. Specialising in conveyancing is going to suit someone with an analytical mind, someone who is incredibly organised and someone happy to work to deadlines - and ensure others do to.

Dealing with the Land Registry and the like can be difficult in terms of getting the information you require when you need it, so patience would also be an advantage.

Criminal Law

Whether defending or prosecuting alleged criminals, specialising in criminal law is going to suit the type of person that not only enjoys but thrives in the cut and thrust of the court room. This is where cases will be made or broken so being able to think fast, spot opportunities and be convincing are talents that will be required. In addition, hours of research are likely to be required before stepping foot in the court room so again, patience and a willingness to put in the time are going to be required.

That said, the rewards in terms of personal satisfaction when you win a criminal law case will no doubt make up for it.

Medical Negligence Law

Specialising in medical negligence is likely to suit a person with a combination of the already mentioned skills. It would involve a lot of paperwork and research, analysing medical records, reading statements and the like, as well as fighting the case in a court room.

An analytical, patient person who also enjoys court room battles is going to be ideally suited, as is someone who can handle the pressure of fighting cases where the level of medical negligence compensation can be in the millions.

Whichever speciality a solicitor chooses, they have to be sure that the type of work suits their skills and their personality if they are to both enjoy it and excel for themselves and on behalf of their clients.

Of course, the financial rewards in terms of salary and bonus are going to be in the higher profile areas of legal practice, such as criminal law and medical negligence. There is more pressure involved in fighting these cases so the rewards are greater - if this is a consideration for a solicitor, then they need to weigh up the pros and cons of pressure versus lifestyle too.

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Pearson Hinchliffe, medical negligence solicitors and specialists in claiming medical negligence compensation.

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