Fort Mill Health Care Fraud Lawyer

Fort Mill Health Care Fraud Attorney

The healthcare industry is known to be incredibly complex and difficult to interact with. Constantly shifting regulations and demanding protocols can all lead to making easy but crucial mistakes, resulting in being accused of committing healthcare fraud. Fortunately, a Fort Mill healthcare fraud lawyer can help.

What Is Healthcare Fraud?

When you set out to hire a Fort Mill healthcare fraud lawyer to represent your case, you may find yourself with more questions than answers. Fortunately, we can help you grow your understanding of what healthcare fraud is, as well as represent your case in a South Carolina court of law.

Healthcare fraud, simply put, is when an individual intentionally tries to deceive the healthcare system by fraudulently gaining payments or benefits. It is a type of white-collar crime, like embezzlement and identity theft, and can result in convicted individuals serving time in prison, as well as potentially paying up to $250,000 in monetary fines.

Health care fraud cases in Fort Mill, South Carolina, involve schemes such as submitting false Medicaid or Medicare claims for services not rendered or unnecessary treatments. The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services investigates and refers fraud cases to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for prosecution, aiming to protect taxpayers and patients from harm. Fort Mill’s Criminal Investigations Division also supports these efforts by investigating related offenses.

The average amount of time served by people who have been found guilty of healthcare fraud is 27 months, and while that may not seem like a life-changing amount, prison time can have a long-lasting impact on many parts of your life.

For expert legal assistance, contact Christopher A. Wellborn, P.A., a seasoned criminal defense attorney with over 30 years of experience, former York County prosecutor, and current president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Call (803) 366-1065 for a consultation.

Who Can Commit Healthcare Fraud in South Carolina?

There are several different types of people and/or groups who can be accused of committing healthcare fraud, including medical providers, patients, and others who are connected to prescription fraud cases.

Fraud Committed by Medical Providers:

In 2024, a total of 76 doctors, nurse practitioners, and other licensed medical professionals were charged with committing healthcare fraud. There are multiple ways that this form of crime can be performed, including but not limited to the following examples:

• Double billing. Occurs when someone submits multiple claims for the same healthcare service.
• Phantom billing. Someone submitted a bill for a service, visit, and/or supplies that the patient never actually received.
• When someone submits multiple bills for the same service.
• When someone bills for a more expensive service than the patient happened to receive.

Fraud Committed by Patients and Other Individuals:

Healthcare fraud is not always committed by licensed professionals who are affiliated with the world of medical care. It does, however, tend to manifest in a different way, including the following examples:

• Promoting false marketing. This occurs when someone works to convince people to provide their health insurance identification number, as well as other personal information, to steal their identities, enroll them in fraudulent benefit plans, and/or bill for services that were not rendered to the individual.
• Committing identity theft/identity swapping. If you use another individual’s health insurance or allow another person to use your health insurance, you could be charged with identity theft or swapping in South Carolina.
• Impersonating a healthcare professional. It is illegal to provide and/or issue a billing statement for any equipment or health services without the proper licensing.

Fraud Involving Prescriptions:

Many prescriptions are considered controlled substances, but even when they are not, it is illegal to create or file a false prescription. This can happen through means of the following means:

• Forgery. You cannot divert legal prescriptions for any illegal uses, like selling your own prescription medication to someone else.
• Forgery. This occurs when you create and/or use any kind of forged prescriptions.
• Doctor shopping. If you visit multiple providers to get prescriptions for a controlled substance, or if you get your prescriptions from a medical office that engages in unethical and illegal practices, you can be charged with doctor shopping.

Your lawyer will be able to help you sort out when your case will take place at the Matthew J. Perry, Jr. Courthouse, which is the most fitting location for your Fort Mill healthcare fraud case to be carried out.

FAQs

Fort Mill Healthcare Fraud Lawyer

If you feel overwhelmed at the prospect of handling your own Fort Mill healthcare fraud case, contact Christopher A. Wellborn, P.A., to schedule a consultation. Many individuals have found that hiring Christopher A. Wellborn, P.A., can lead to an increase in the likelihood of your success, as well as improve your general legal experience overall. You do not need to face this alone.