Attorney Edward Bajoka: Detroit Health Care Fraud Defense Attorney

No industry faces more government scrutiny related to fraud and abuse than health care. From whistleblower lawsuits under the False Claims Act to industry-wide investigations led by the U.S. Department of Justice to ever changing Medicare compliance requirements, health care companies are exposed to a wide range of investigations and enforcement actions by both federal and state officials.

With our base in Detroit, the Bajoka Law Group, headed up by Attorney Edward Bajoka, are experts in health care fraud. Our attorneys understand both the business and the politics of health care. Our counsel goes beyond the legal issues to consider all of the operational and management issues a client faces when a health care fraud and abuse matter arises.

Health care fraud is a financially motivated criminal activity where typically doctors or clinics charge for services that were either not medically necessary or never provided at all to their patients. Most federal health care fraud cases arise from false billings to Medicare, Medicaid or other federally operated health care organizations. Health care fraud in America accounts for over $100 billion each year. The FBI and DEA have made health care fraud a prime focus in their crime-fighting efforts. Health care fraud investigations are considered a high priority within the FBI’s Complex Financial Crime Program. If you are being investigated for health care fraud it is important to know that the federal government is not taking these cases lightly. Expect the full force of the federal government in investigating and prosecuting health care fraud cases.

Some common examples of health care fraud include:

Billing for services not rendered

Billing for personal expenses

Overpricing

Duplicate Billing

Faking claims to receive payments

Falsifying diagnoses

Possible punishments for health care fraud include:

Prison: Making a false statement to Medicare or Medicaid can result in a 5-year sentence for each offense. If someone suffers a serious bodily injury due to health care fraud it can result in a 20-year sentence. If someone dies due to health care fraud it can result in a life sentence in federal prison.

Probation: Probation is an alternative to jail time that a judge can sentence someone for a health care fraud conviction. As part of the probation, the offender will have to follow certain guidelines, may have to submit for drug or alcohol screening, and will have an assigned probation agent that they will need to stay in close contact with. Violations of probation can result in lengthy prison sentences.

Restitution: A judge can order an offender to pay back the money improperly obtained due to their fraudulent activity. This number can easily end up in the millions of dollars.

Fines: Anyone convicted of a health care fraud offense is subject to hefty fines. A false statement to Medicare or Medicaid by an individual doctor can result in up to a $250,000 fine per offense. False statements by organizations can result in up to a $500,000 fine per offense. Again, it is easy to see how these fines can easily end up in the millions of dollars.

With the consequences of a health care fraud charge and conviction being so severe, it is crucial to have a Detroit attorney on your side that is committed to standing up for you. At the Bajoka Law Group, that is the type of service we provide. Attorney Edward Bajoka has extensive experience arguing cases in federal courts and has in-depth knowledge of the system. He will skillfully guide you through the legal process from start to finish. 

The consequences can be long-lasting, and you could suffer the effects long after your sentence. For example, having a criminal record could ruin your reputation, make it difficult to get a job, present challenges when looking for housing, and disqualify you from government benefits. 

For representation from an attorney industry leader in Michigan, call Attorney Edward Bajoka at (844) 4BAJOKA today.