Medicare Whistleblower Attorney (January Update)

Our Attorneys Can Help You Blow the Whistle on Medicare Fraud

Medicare costs the federal government (and U.S. taxpayers) tens of billions of dollars each year. The latest estimates now put the annual cost of Medicare false claims above $100 billion—and this figure will likely continue increasing as the number of patients in the U.S. grows and the costs of healthcare continue to rise.

To put this overview into perspective, the current figure means that the federal government pays more than $250 million in fraudulent Medicare false claims act every single day.

These are exorbitant losses—and they are losses that whistleblowers can help the government (and taxpayers) recover. Whistleblowers play an important role in the federal government’s fight against Medicare false claims act. Federal law provides clear protections to encourage whistleblowing; and, if you are aware (or believe you may be aware) of fraudulent billing practices, speaking with a Medicare whistleblower lawyer is the right thing to do.

Our attorneys have extensive experience handling False Claims Act cases involving both Medicare and Medicaid fraud, giving us a broad perspective on how healthcare fraud cases are investigated and prosecuted under federal law.

Extensive Experience on All Sides of Medicare Whistleblower Cases

At Oberheiden P.C., we have extensive overview experience on all sides of Medicaid whistleblower cases. Along with experience representing whistleblowers, many of our whistleblower attorneys have prior experience investigating Medicaid false claims at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Many of our attorneys have experience defending providers during Medicaid audits and investigations as well. As a result, we are thoroughly familiar with the overview of relevant laws, billing regulations, and procedures—and we can use our experience to help you make informed decisions as you move forward.

In addition to representing whistleblowers, we also understand how government agencies conduct Medicaid fraud and healthcare fraud investigations, allowing us to anticipate investigative strategies and protect our clients’ interests against such fraud.

When you speak with a Medicaid whistleblower attorney at Oberheiden P.C., you are under no obligation to move forward with filing a whistleblower complaint. Our role is to serve as your advisor, and to serve as your representative if you decide to blow the whistle. Your attorney will help you understand the overview and what it means to serve as a Medicaid whistleblower and what you can expect if you decide to blow the whistle, and then you will have the opportunity to report use this information to decide what you want to do next.

Each healthcare fraud whistleblower attorney at our firm draws on decades of combined federal experience, and our team of experienced healthcare fraud attorneys is uniquely positioned to guide clients through complex whistleblower matters.

Put our highly experienced team on your side

Dr. Nick Oberheiden

Founder

Attorney-at-Law

Lynette S. Byrd

Former DOJ Trial Attorney

Partner

Brian J. Kuester

Former U.S. Attorney

Hon. Kevin McCarthy

55th Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives (ret.)

Government Consultant

Mike Pompeo

Of Counsel

Former U.S. Secretary of State

John W. Sellers

Former Senior DOJ Trial Attorney

Linda Julin McNamara

Federal Appeals Attorney

Nicholas B. Johnson

Former Prosecutor

Roger Bach

Former Special Agent (DOJ)

Chris J. Quick

Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI)

Michael S. Koslow

Former Supervisory Special Agent (DOD-OIG)

Ray Yuen

Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)

What to Expect When You Meet with a Medicare Whistleblower Attorney at Oberheiden P.C.

As a potential Medicaid whistleblower, knowing what to expect is important. Here is what you can expect when you schedule a free and confidential consultation with a Medicare whistleblower attorney at Oberheiden P.C.:

• Complete Confidence – From the moment you contact us, we will protect your identity, and we will maintain all information you share in complete confidence. We will continue to protect your identity throughout the process, and we will only disclose your information to the federal government if you decide to move forward as a Medicare whistleblower.
• One-on-One Representation – As a client, you will work directly with a Medicare whistleblower lawyer throughout the course of our representation. Your attorney will be available when you have questions; and, if you choose to move forward, your attorney will communicate with the federal government on your behalf.
• Senior-Level Experience – All of our attorneys have senior-level experience, including prior senior-level experience at the DOJ in many cases. In addition, our team includes several former high-ranking federal agents who used to investigate Medicaid false claims for the federal government. Our attorneys also have in-depth knowledge of designated health services under the Stark Law, which frequently overlap with Medicare billing violations and federal False Claims Act exposure.
• Personalized Advice and Assistance – As a Medicare whistleblower, you need personalized advice and assistance, and this is what we provide. We will advise you based on your individual circumstances; and, if you decide to move forward with blowing the whistle on Medicare false claims, you will work closely with your attorney every step of the way.
• No Out-of-Pocket Fees or Costs – We do not charge our whistleblower clients any out-of-pocket fees or costs. You are doing a service to the country by blowing the whistle on Medicare false claims, and you should not have to pay to do so. If the government recovers fraudulent Medicare billings as a result of your whistleblower complaint, you may be eligible for an award; and, if we help you collect an award, we will recoup our fees and costs from the government’s recovery.

When Can (and Should) You Blow the Whistle on Medicare Fraud?

Medicare false claims can take many different forms. Sometimes it is intention and sometimes it is inadvertent—and sometimes it is made to seem inadvertent when it is intentional.

All forms of Medicare false claims act violate federal law. All forms of Medicare fraud cost taxpayers, and all forms of Medicare false claims contribute to the rising healthcare system costs in the United States. As a result, all forms of Medicare false claims need to be exposed; and, more often than not, whistleblowers are in the best position to expose their employers’ (or others’) healthcare fraud, waste, and abuse.

Medicare and Medicaid fraud can appear in countless healthcare fraud cases, from improper physician self-referrals to billing for services that were never rendered.

So, when can (and should) you blow the whistle on Medicare fraud? The simple answer is that you should speak with an attorney about coming forward if you have any concerns about Medicare false claims for any reason. This includes (but is not limited to) common forms of Medicare false claims such as:

• Billing for medically unnecessary services, items, or supplies
• Double-billing Medicare and other payors
• Upcoding, unbundling, and other coding violations
• Phantom billing (billing for services, items, or supplies not provided to patients)
• Falsifying patient information and other fraudulent practices

Many potential Medicare whistleblowers have questions about the types of records and amount of information they need to blow the whistle. The short answer is, “It depends.” As a whistleblower, you need to be able to substantiate your good-faith belief that a healthcare provider or other business has improperly billed Medicare. You do not need to be able to prove it conclusively. Once you file your whistleblower complaint, the federal government will conduct an investigation—and the purpose of this investigation is to determine if enforcement action is warranted.

With our attorneys’ experience handling Medicare fraud cases from all perspectives, we can evaluate the information you have about the healthcare industry in your possession and explain whether we believe it makes sense for you to move forward with filing a whistleblower complaint. If so, and if you decide to move forward, we will prepare your information for submission to the federal government. If additional information is needed, we will work with you to assess your options. As an experienced whistleblower law firm, we will continue to advise you as you choose your next steps to report healthcare fraud.

FAQs: Reporting Fraud with the Help of a Medicare Whistleblower Attorney