Medicare fraud, which is a widespread problem in the United States, occurs when an individual, medical team, pharmaceutical company, or healthcare facility claims reimbursement for services to which they aren’t entitled. This practice costs the government and taxpayers billions of dollars each year, which is why the government requests that people report instances of Medicare fraud when it is discovered. In order to encourage people to report Medicare fraud, the government offers reporters, also known as “whistleblowers,” financial compensation for reports of fraud that lead to the recovery of Medicare funds. If you have direct knowledge that someone has committed Medicare fraud, you should contact a Medicare fraud whistleblower attorney as soon as possible. Below are some of the most common types of Medicare fraud.
Most common types of Medicare fraud
- Billing for unnecessary items or services – This type of fraud entails intentionally billing for unnecessary services in order to generate extra revenue.
- Billing for items or services not provided – People and entities sometimes bill for items or services that were never actually provided. This is one of the more blatant forms of Medicare fraud.
- Unbundling – This practice involves entering multiple codes for a group of procedures that are covered in a single billing code.
- Drug diversion – Drug diversion is the practice of writing unnecessary prescriptions to obtain drugs for personal use or to sell.
- Kickbacks – It is illegal to offer, solicit, or pay for beneficiary referrals for medical items or services.
- Upcoding – Upcoding is the practice of billing for services at a higher level of complexity than was provided.
- Card sharing – This occurs when a provider knowingly treats and claims reimbursement for someone other than the eligible beneficiary.
- Collusion – Collusion is the act of knowingly collaborating with beneficiaries to file false reimbursement claims.
You may be entitled to financial compensation
Medicare fraud is a huge problem in the United States, and the government is eager to act against those who engage in the practice. In order to encourage citizens to report those who defraud Medicare, the government offers generous financial compensation to whistleblowers. However, in order to ensure that you are compensated for your Medicare fraud information, you should contact a Medicare fraud whistleblower attorney to assist you with reporting.
Contact a Medicare fraud whistleblower attorney
If you have evidence of Medicare fraud, you may be entitled to financial compensation. However, in order to receive a monetary reward from the government, you need to make sure that you do everything correctly. At Jeff Newman Law, we’ll help you accumulate the documentation you need to file your claim and guide you through the process in a manner that ensures you remain legally protected. Whether you are aware of irregularities in the healthcare office in which you work or have otherwise uncovered activity designed to defraud Medicare, you need an experienced attorney on your side. Please contact us today for a consultation.
