Pediatric & Caregiving Home Health Whistleblower

Talk to a Lawyer About Reporting Pediatric or Caregiving Home Health Fraud Under Medicaid

Several government programs provide opportunities for family members to receive payments when they devote time to caring for their children, aging parents, or loved ones with disabilities. Unfortunately, these programs are prime targets for fraud and abuse. If you search online, you will even find companies that promote taking advantage of these programs to “get paid for taking care of your family,” while failing to disclose the strict rules and restrictions that apply. 

As a result, fraud and abuse under these programs—many of which exist under the Medicaid umbrella—are prevalent. While the full cost of pediatric and caregiving home health fraud is unknown, it is substantial. With this in mind, if you have information about pediatric or caregiving home health fraud, it is important that you speak with an attorney about coming forward. 

Understanding the Many Forms of Pediatric and Caregiving Home Health Fraud

Pediatric and caregiving home health fraud can take many different forms. As a result, if you have concerns about fraud or abuse for any reason, it will be well worth talking to a whistleblower lawyer about the information you have in your possession. Some of the more-common examples of fraud under Medicaid and other federal health care programs involving family member home caregiving include: 

• False representing oneself as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or another type of certified caregiver.
• False representing a child, parent, or other family member’s need for in-home care.
• Claiming to have provided reimbursable home caregiving services to a child, parent, or other family member when no such services were rendered.
• Inflating the number of hours spent providing caregiving services to a family member in the home.
• Misrepresenting eligibility for a Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver (also commonly referred to as a “Medicaid waiver”).

Again, these are just examples. Additionally, in many cases, home caregivers commit fraud and abuse because they are relying on false or misleading information they received from home health agencies or another party (or that they found online), despite oversight by Health and Human Services. In these scenarios, the party that provided the false or misleading information—whether healthcare providers, a for-profit company, an online influencer, or a scam artist—may be legally responsible. 

At Oberheiden P.C., we represent individuals who have information about all forms of pediatric and caregiving home health fraud and abuse. When you contact us, we can explain whether the information you have in your possession warrants filing a whistleblower complaint with the government. If it does, we can explain everything you need to know about coming forward, and we can communicate with the government on your behalf. 

What Does it Mean to Be a Whistleblower?

Let’s say you decide to come forward. What does it mean to be a whistleblower?

One of the most important things you need to know is that the term “whistleblower” has a specific definition under federal law. While whistleblowers are entitled to protection against retaliation (and potentially entitled to financial compensation), this is only true when they come forward through the appropriate channels. As a result, if you talk to a reporter or post what you know on social media, you will not receive protected whistleblower status—even if your actions lead to a government investigation. 

In most cases, qualifying as a whistleblower involves coming forward under the False Claims Act. This is a broad federal statute that prohibits fraud, waste, and abuse under numerous government programs, including government healthcare programs such as Medicaid. If you take the steps necessary to qualify as a whistleblower under the False Claims Act: 

• Your identity will be kept confidential for as long as possible (potentially indefinitely).
• Your employer will be prohibited from retaliating against you if it uncovers your identity. 
• You will be entitled to legal remedies (including financial compensation) if your employer retaliates against you illegally. 
• The government will investigate your complaint to determine if a civil or criminal enforcement action is warranted. 
• If the information you provide leads to a successful enforcement action, you may be entitled to receive 10% to 30% of the amount the government recovers. 

All of these are important reasons to consider coming forward if you believe that you may have information about pediatric or caregiving home health fraud under Medicaid or another government program. Exposing fraud and abuse can help prevent future taxpayer losses as well. 

How Do You Blow the Whistle on Pediatric or Caregiving Home Health Fraud?

If you believe that you may be eligible to serve as a whistleblower (or don’t know and want to find out), your first step is to schedule consultation with an experienced whistleblower lawyer. This consultation is completely free and confidential. An experienced whistleblower lawyer will be able to help you make informed decisions about your next steps, including whether to file a complaint against a company that has promoted, encouraged, or facilitated Medicaid fraud. 

Many of the companies that promote fraudulent pediatric and caregiving home health schemes do so because they receive kickbacks for assisting with defrauding Medicaid. Charging fees for assisting parents, adult children, and other family members with improperly billing Medicaid is a clear—and significant—form of fraud. Exposing these companies’ unlawful practices can lead to significant recoveries of taxpayer funds; and, in many cases, federal prosecutors will target these companies instead of the individuals who unknowingly fell for fraudulent promotions. 

Here is what you can expect when you schedule a consultation with a whistleblower lawyer at Oberheiden P.C.: 

• Free and Confidential – As we said above, your initial consultation is completely free and confidential. This is your opportunity to gather the information you need to decide what you want to do next. 
• Straightforward Legal Advice – During your initial consultation, your lawyer will provide straightforward legal advice based on your specific circumstances. If we can help you, we will let you know. If we can’t help you, we will let you know this too. 
• Availability Going Forward – In many cases, people who are thinking about blowing the whistle will need time to make their final decision. Our lawyers will remain available to you as you work through deciding whether you want to file a complaint under the False Claims Act. 
• No-Cost Legal Representation – We provide whistleblower representation at no out-of-pocket cost to our clients. If you decide to file a whistleblower complaint and you receive a financial reward under the False Claims Act, our legal fees will be paid by the defendant. 
• Representation Every Step of the Way – From your initial consultation through the resolution of the government’s case, our lawyers will represent you every step of the way. You can feel confident knowing that our lawyers, including our former federal prosecutors, are on your side.

Would you like to speak with a lawyer about what to do with the information you have in your possession? If so, you can contact us 24/7, and we will arrange for you to speak with one of our lawyers in strict confidence as soon as possible.

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)

FAQs: Blowing the Whistle on Pediatric or Caregiving Home Health Fraud

What Should I Do if I Know that Someone is Improperly Receiving Payments from Medicaid?

If you know that someone is improperly receiving payments from Medicaid (i.e., for taking care of a family member at home), you should strongly consider talking to a whistleblower lawyer. This type of fraud costs taxpayers millions of dollars per year, and governmental authorities, including Medicaid Fraud Control Units, rely heavily on whistleblowers to help it target those who are responsible. 

A Company Contacted Me About Getting Paid to Take Care of My Children or Parents. Is This Legit?

While there are legitimate ways to receive payment under Medicaid and other programs for caring for your children or aging parents, there are also a lot of scams out there. You should be very careful to make sure you comply with the law, and you should consider talking to a lawyer about reporting the company that contacted you. 

How Do I Report My Employer for Medicaid Fraud?

If you believe that your employer is engaged in pediatric or caregiving home health fraud under Medicaid, you may be able to qualify as a whistleblower under the False Claims Act. Whistleblowers under the False Claims Act are entitled to confidentiality and protections against retaliation, and they will be eligible to receive financial rewards in some cases. Talking to a healthcare fraud whistleblower lawyer is the first step in the process. 

When Should I Contact a Lawyer About Pediatric Home Health Fraud or Home Caregiver Fraud?

If you have concerns about possible pediatric home health fraud or home caregiver fraud, you should contact a lawyer promptly. This costs you nothing out of pocket, and there are several important reasons to consider working with a lawyer to tell the government what you know. 

Do I Need a Lawyer to Report Pediatric Home Health Fraud or Home Caregiver Fraud?

While you aren’t legally required to hire a lawyer to serve as a whistleblower in healthcare fraud cases, there are many ways an experienced lawyer will be able to help you. To learn more about reporting health care fraud, schedule a free and confidential consultation at Oberheiden P.C. today.

Talk to a Lawyer About Serving as a Pediatric or Caregiving Home Health Whistleblower

If you would like to speak with a lawyer about serving as a pediatric, caregiving home health, or Medicaid or Medicare fraud whistleblower, we encourage you to contact us promptly. Call 888-680-1745 or contact us confidentially online to schedule an appointment today. 

Updated: April 15 2025