Healthcare facilities are supposed to help people, but the billing system used to organize who pays for what and when is complex. Hospitals and clinics sometimes take advantage of these complexities by falsifying or failing to disclose information to charge more for services.
Medicare, a health insurance program run by the United States government, can fall prey to these deceptions. Medicare fraud affects patients and the American taxpayers funding this government insurance program. If you are ready to help expose fraudulent healthcare claims, a Champaign Medicare fraud lawyer is prepared to help in your case. Get a free consultation with the qui tam attorneys of Tycko & Zavareei LLP today.
What is Medicare?
Medicare is a health insurance program run by the government and funded by taxpayers. When people need health insurance, Medicare is one option available. This insurance covers hospital stays, emergency room visits, doctors’ visits, and medication costs. Most often, the people who use Medicare are over the age of 65.
For example, if you are on Medicare when you go to the doctor, your doctor would send the bill to Medicare. The exact amount you can get from Medicare and what it covers will vary.
Examples of Medicare Fraud
Medical facilities charge Medicare for medical goods and services. For example, a hospital might charge Medicare for your emergency room visit or your overnight stay in the hospital. A pharmacy might bill Medicare for your medication.
Medicare fraud happens when healthcare groups overcharge Medicare for services rendered or charge Medicare for services which were never rendered. Additional examples include claiming that they ran certain tests which they did not actually run or that they had a specialist administer a medical service when an on-staff nurse actually performed the service. Furthermore, doctors might diagnose a patient with a condition they do not actually have in order to collect more money from Medicare, or a pharmacy might charge Medicare more for your medication than it charges its other customers.
What is the Role of a Whistleblower in a Champaign Medicare Fraud Case?
A whistleblower is often an ordinary employee who discovers that Medicare fraud is happening at their place of employment. For example, someone who works in medical billing might notice intentional billing errors. A nurse might discover that a patient’s electronic health records show medications or surgeries that were never administered to them.
After a whistleblower collects evidence of fraud, they can file a qui tam lawsuit on behalf of the US government. While this process can seem daunting, whistleblowers are offered specific protections under the False Claims Act.
What is the False Claims Act and How Does it Protect Whistleblowers in Champaign?
The False Claims Act is a federal law that allows whistleblowers to sue their employers on behalf of the US government. As a reward, the False Claims Act allows whistleblowers to keep a percentage of the amount recovered in a successful Medicare fraud lawsuit. This law makes businesses think twice about committing fraud and encourages employees to come forward and put a stop to fraud when it happens.
The Illinois False Claims Act
Some states have enacted their own False Claims Acts that allow whistleblowers to sue their employers on behalf of the state government. Similar to the federal False Claims Act, the whistleblower gets to keep a percentage of the recovered amount if their case is successful. The Illinois False Claims Act allows its citizens to sue their employers for fraud on behalf of the Illinois state government.
How Can a Champaign Medicare Fraud Lawyer Help Me?
Our attorneys understand the specific laws and regulations that apply in Champaign Medicare fraud cases. If you are eligible to file a Medicare fraud whistleblower lawsuit in Champaign, we can help you with this process. We can help you organize your evidence, fill out the needed paperwork, and communicate with everyone involved. We understand the deadlines for whistleblower lawsuits and can help you complete the process on time. Once retained, our lawyers will be in close communication with you and answer any questions you may have about the whistleblower process.
How Much Can I Recover from a Medicare Fraud Case in Champaign, IL?
Your payout will vary based on the overall amount recovered using your whistleblower tip. At the federal level, whistleblowers typically get to keep between 15 and 30 percent of the recovered amount. At the state level in Illinois, a whistleblower can typically receive between 15 and 25 percent of the recovered amount.
Under our contingency fee structure, we only accept payment if you win your case and will take a percentage of the amount you recover to cover your legal expenses. This allows you to take full advantage of our legal services completely risk free. We can discuss how we charge for our services during an initial consultation.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Champaign Medicare Fraud Lawyer
Blowing the whistle on Medicare fraud can feel overwhelming, but coming forward with the information and evidence you have collected is the right thing to do. Our experienced lawyers are ready to go over your Champaign Medicare fraud case and help you get the whistleblower process started. Your first consultation with our firm is always completely free and confidential.
Get in touch with Tycko & Zavareei LLP today to schedule your free consultation with our whistleblower attorneys. Our team is ready to help you with your whistleblower case.
