There’s a lot on the line when you’re accused of healthcare fraud. Your career can certainly be in jeopardy, but so, too, can your financial stability and your freedom. That’s why if you’re under investigation for healthcare fraud you need to understand the process and what you can do to protect yourself.
Protecting your interests during the investigation
You should be on the defensive from the get-go of a healthcare fraud investigation. You should carefully analyze the evidence that investigators have and consider your best course of action at that point.
In some circumstances, the government simply wants to recoup money. This can give you an opening to negotiate resolution before formal charges are made. Or maybe you have information that you can share with law enforcement that would lead to leniency.
Be careful here, though, so that you’re not making any incriminating statements that can later be used against you in a criminal prosecution. So, only be prepared to cooperate with investigators if you think that there’s a strong chance that you can resolve the matter without formal charges or that your potential penalties will be much lighter. An attorney can help you conduct this assessment.
What if you decide not to cooperate?
If you’re unable or unwilling to negotiate with investigators, then you need to be prepared to face formal charges. There may be a lot of defense strategies at your disposal depending on the facts of your case, including utilizing expert witnesses to testify as to medical necessity and whether you over-utilized a certain practice or medication. Just make sure that your defense expert is reliable and well-vetted before putting him or her on the stand. Again, your attorney can walk you through other defense strategies available to you.
Seek out the guidance that you need
There’s too much at stake in your case to leave your criminal defense in the hands of an attorney who is inexperienced in these matters. That’s why it’s in your best interests to thoroughly consider your representation options and select one that has a strong track record of successfully advocating for medical professionals in these proceedings.