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Health Care Fraud Attorney

Turn to Lowther Walker, LLC for experienced health care fraud attorneys and a knowledgeable criminal defense team to handle the complexity of your health care fraud case.

Call 404-496-4052 for a free, confidential consultation.

NZ Cleared in $1.4 Billion Health Care Fraud Case

The largest health care fraud case that DOJ has ever prosecuted

Recent Case Study

United States v. J.P., et al.: The Department of Justice's Criminal Division, Fraud Section charged our client and nine other individuals in a $1.4 billon health care fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy (the largest health care fraud case that DOJ has ever prosecuted) concerning toxicology laboratories' using rural and critical-access hospitals in an alleged pass-through billing scheme. After a six-week trial, during which the DOJ presented forty-two witnesses—including cooperating, alleged co-conspirators—and over 500 exhibits, the jury deliberated for four days before failing to unanimously agree on a verdict, prompting the Court to declare a mistrial. DOJ released all of the client's seized assets at the conclusion of the trial. The Government elected to try the case again with an different expert witness and an additional cooperating, alleged co-conspirator, and after a four-week trial, the jury found our client not guilty on all counts in the indictment.

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$7 Million


Health Care Fraud, Health Care Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and False Statements

$30 Million


Client's allegedly participating in a "telemedicine" kickback scheme

$400K


Fraudulently billed insurance companies, and federal health care benefit programs

Health care fraud is committed when a provider or patient intentionally submits, or causes someone else to submit, misleading or falsified information that results in an improper amount of payable health care benefits. Health care fraud is a serious crime and can be committed by both medical providers and their consumers or patients. A health care fraud investigation can get complicated very quickly. Should you find yourself involved in a health care fraud investigation, you will not want to have to navigate the legal aspects on your own. A health care fraud attorney with a reputation for success will help you walk through the entire legal process to work toward a positive outcome. A health care fraud attorney knows the legal process backward and forward, and their insight into how the government investigates and prosecutes will be used to your advantage.

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Health Care Fraud Defined

Health care fraud can involve the improper handling of claims that are billed by the medical provider or filed by the consumer. Dishonest submission of these claims can lead to health care fraud. Health care fraud investigations usually involve allegations of defrauding private insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid, workers’ compensation, or Tricare. These cases often involve multiple parties such as executives, hospital workers, marketers, medical professionals, labs, rehabilitation or nursing facilities, drug stores, testing services, surgical centers, or pharmaceutical companies. Every year, billions of dollars are lost in health care fraud. If you are indicted or convicted of such crimes, you can face harsh sentences that will affect your life forever.

Health Care Fraud Punishments

Health care fraud convictions can bring about substantial penalties, such as a lengthy prison sentence. False statements on a Medicaid or Medicare claim can result in up to a 5-year prison sentence per offense. Federal health care fraud can result in a 10-year sentence per offense. If the fraud leads to bodily harm, it could potentially mean up to a 20-year sentence in prison. In addition, you could also face a fine of anywhere from $250,000 to $500,000 depending upon the claim. Organizations could face millions or even billions of dollars in fines. A judge may also order that defendants must pay restitution, meaning the defendant must pay back a set amount of money that was lost as a result of health care fraud. For instance, a doctor who improperly billed an insurance company for tests that weren’t performed may be ordered to pay back this money to the insurance company. Restitution is in addition to any fines issued. A defendant convicted of health care fraud can also face probation, which limits the freedoms a person has in lieu of jail time. This could last from 12 months to three years.

Health Care Fraud Misconduct

Health care fraud can be very broad, but a number of different things can fall under the umbrella of health care fraud misconduct, such as the following:

  • Billing for services considered not medically necessary
  • Billing for services never provided
  • Upcoding claims – submitting claims that are higher than the level of service provided for higher reimbursement
  • Unlicensed services
  • Submitting duplicate claims
  • Misrepresenting diagnosis or procedure to capitalize on maximum payments
  • Unbundling procedures – serrating costs for procedures normally billed as one kind of treatment
  • Altering medical records or reports
  • Receiving kickbacks for any goods or services

If you have been accused of one or more of these misconducts, you could be facing serious consequences. You don’t have to face it alone. Our team knows what to do in every circumstance and will walk with you throughout the entire legal process, from investigations to trial.

Legal Services Help You Protect Yourself

Health care fraud investigations or criminal cases do not tend to move quickly or end in a short time. They are intricate, well-researched investigations that are led by intelligent, knowledgeable prosecutors aiming to convict, meaning they can take time. Most of these investigations are handled by the U.S. Attorney’s office and a health care fraud coordinator who is in charge of handling criminal or civil cases. In addition, Washington D.C. is the headquarters for the Health Care Fraud Strike Force whose job is to determine the cities with the highest health care fraud in order to further investigate health care within those cities.

It’s clear that on a local and national level, health care fraud is being taken very seriously. Because these are teams of specialized prosecutors, they can be a formidable opponent. Top-level government agencies can get involved, such as the FBI, MFCU (Medicaid Fraud Control Unit), US DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), or US Department of Health and Human Services. They have countless resources available and can effectively build a strong case. Being accused of health care fraud means that you need someone on your side. It requires the services of a highly capable, professional, and skilled health care fraud attorney to protect you and your assets. Thankfully, our team at Lowther Walker, LLC is here for you, and we have the in-depth knowledge of how the prosecution operates to effectively assist you in your defense.

Defending Health Care Fraud

Our health care fraud attorneys will begin our own investigation into your case by examining data, speaking to any witnesses, and seeking the advice of experts to give testimony on your behalf. We will also work hard to cast doubt on your intention to participate in a crime or reduce company exposure during this investigation. Rest assured, our team of health care fraud lawyers are well prepared to defend against what may be coming your way, such as audits, investigations, inquiries from MFCU teams, grand jury proceedings, Controlled Substances Act diversion investigations, FCA investigations, or any other fraud charge or kickback charge that has been brought forward. You don’t have to face the overwhelming process alone. With our legal experience, we can and will work hard to bring about a positive outcome for you

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Our Federal Healthcare Fraud Defense Attorneys

Aggressive legal help when you need it
Joshua Lowther at Lowther Walker

Joshua Sabert Lowther, Esq.

Murdoch Walker at Lowther Walker

Murdoch Walker, II, Esq.

Katryna Lyn Spearman at Lowther Walker

Katryna Lyn Spearman, Esq.

Bingzi Hu, Esq.

Lowther | Walker: Local Federal Criminal Defense for Health Care Fraud

If you’re facing federal charges and prosecutors are closing in, call Lowther | Walker to fight back. Our defense lawyers are available 24/7 to respond to your urgent case questions. Start your fight for justice backed by the national leaders in federal criminal defense.
Contact Lowther | Walker now for a free case consultation, or call 404-496-4052 to speak immediately with our team.

Experienced. Aggressive. Successful. Nationwide.
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