What Are the Penalties For Healthcare Fraud in New York?

Whether you are dealing with a private insurance company or a government benefits program, an accusation of healthcare fraud is serious. If you are facing such charges, you should seek the advice of an Orangetown, NY criminal defense attorney. The punishments for healthcare fraud can be extreme, so now is the time to begin forming your defensive strategy.

What Crimes Are Considered Healthcare Fraud?

Basically, any action that is seen as wrongfully taking money away from an insurance company can be considered healthcare fraud. Common examples of fraud include:

• A doctor bills an insurance company for services that they never actually performed
• A person steals someone’s identity and uses their healthcare coverage
• Someone alters claim forms or other legal documents

If you are accused of making a private insurance company, Medicaid, or Medicare pay out for something that they should not have to pay for, that is going to result in some severe consequences.

Can I Go to Jail for Healthcare Fraud in NY?

The simple answer is yes. Jail time is certainly a possibility in many healthcare fraud cases. If your alleged fraud involved a government program, like Medicare or CHIPS, then you are likely to face federal charges. A conviction can result in a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a requirement to pay restitution. If serious injury resulted from your fraud you could be looking at an even lengthier prison stay. This is why you should have a knowledgeable defense attorney on your side.

What Does a Prosecutor Have to Prove in a Healthcare Fraud Case?

If you are being charged with healthcare fraud, there are generally two things that a prosecutor needs to prove. They need to show that:

• There was a plan to receive money from a healthcare benefit program in a fraudulent way
• You knew that fraud was involved and still tried to execute the scheme

So you can act as if you were innocent, but the prosecutor is going to do their best to show that you knew exactly what was going on and what you were a part of.

Do I Need a Criminal Defense Attorney?

This is why having your own criminal defense attorney on your side is a good idea. They can help you poke holes in the prosecution’s case and create reasonable doubt. Whether you made a simple mistake or you were an unwilling participant in someone else’s scheme, an experienced attorney from our firm can help you forge an effective defense and save yourself from the worst penalties associated with healthcare fraud.

Contact Our Law Firm

You do not have to face these charges alone. Contact the Law Office of Kevin T. Conway and schedule an appointment with our team today. We can go over the facts of your case and tell you more about how we can be of assistance.