Home Healthcare Fraud

Florida Healthcare Fraud Attorneys

Helping to Stop Fraud in the Home Healthcare Industry

Home healthcare providers serve some of the most vulnerable populations in Florida and across the country.  While most of these providers run a fair and truthful business dedicated to helping elderly and disabled individuals, there are home healthcare companies out there who operate dishonestly and attempt to game the system to increase their profits.  

The False Claims Act provides an avenue for people to come forward to report fraud and prevent further abuse in government-sponsored healthcare programs.  Under the whistleblower provisions of the Act, private citizens may file a qui tam lawsuit on behalf of the government.  These types of lawsuits provide a monetary incentive to encourage people to come forward and blow the whistle on fraud and abuse.  Employees who bring a whistleblower action against their employer are also afforded protection from retaliation. 

If you are considering blowing the whistle on a home healthcare provider, The Florida Law Group can help.  Our Florida healthcare fraud attorneys will protect your rights and advocate for your interests at every point in the process.  These types of cases can get complicated very quickly, so it is in your best interest to work with a law firm that understands the myriad of laws and regulations governing the home healthcare industry.  When you retain our firm, you can trust that we will always remain sensitive to your needs, and our attorneys will work directly with you to develop a case strategy that is right for your individual situation.

How Do Home Healthcare Providers Defraud the Government?

There are many ways in which home healthcare providers can cheat and defraud the government.  Some of the most common forms of home healthcare fraud involve:

• Billing for services provided to patients who are not certified as “homebound” (unable to leave their home other than for short visits to a doctor or other healthcare professional)
• Submitting false information to Medicare and other government-sponsored healthcare programs
• Billing for services or procedures that were never performed
• Billing for services or procedures that are not medically necessary
• “Upcoding” or reporting a patient’s health condition as more severe to collect a higher reimbursement
• Providing or receiving kickbacks for referrals of patients and services in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Statute
• Failing to conduct or falsifying criminal background checks for home healthcare workers

These are just a few of the schemes that contribute to the billions of dollars that the government loses to healthcare fraud every year. Moreover, while home healthcare fraud hurts financially, it also puts vulnerable patients at risk for harm.

Suspect That a Home Healthcare Provider Has Committed Fraud?  Our Florida Healthcare Fraud Attorneys Can Help You Take Appropriate Legal Action

If you have reason to believe that a home healthcare provider is currently cheating the government or has perpetrated fraud in the past, you should speak with an experienced whistleblower lawyer before you take any action. The Florida healthcare fraud attorneys at our firm are dedicated professionals who will carefully evaluate the evidence and help you take the appropriate steps to protect your rights and interests.  Call us today at (833) 899-0310 to schedule a free case review.