Pearland Government Contract Investigation Attorney
Government investigations are as stressful as they are dangerous. If you are a healthcare provider or a government contractor facing an investigation by a federal agency, you need to have savvy legal representation on your side to make sure that you cross all appropriate T’s and dot all the right i’s. The process can be laborious and expensive, even if your entity has nothing to hide. Proper compliance is essential to avoid severe civil and even criminal consequences.
If you operate a healthcare business or a company contracting with a federal entity, Keith B. French Law, PLLC is ready to provide consultation, advice, and representation in the event of a federal investigation. Attorney Keith B. French can help you conduct internal investigations and prepare in advance for a pending investigation to ensure there are no unpleasant surprises. Keith B. French Law will protect your business, your finances, and your reputation while ensuring that you efficiently and effectively satisfy the government’s interests.
Healthcare Fraud Investigation Defense
Healthcare providers are subject to myriad laws, investigations and oversight by an alphabet soup of state and federal agencies. At Keith B. French Law, attorney Keith B. French understands just how much of a burden regulatory compliance can be for hospitals and other healthcare entities. In addition to all of the standard business practices, agency reporting, and compliance issues faced by all Texas businesses, healthcare businesses must adhere to complex and arcane health-specific regulations and laws. The government may choose to conduct an investigation whenever it suspects any wrongdoing, or periodically just as a matter of due diligence. Often, investigations arise as a result of a whistleblower complaint.
The healthcare investigation defense attorney at Keith B. French Law has years of experience working with the federal government on both sides of the table, handling investigations from the client side and representing the government as an Assistant United States Prosecutor. Keith B. French Law will represent you throughout the investigation, ensure you demonstrate your compliance where applicable, and mitigate the consequences for any perceived violation.
Federal Healthcare Regulations
There are a number of different federal laws that give the government the power to investigate and prosecute alleged healthcare fraud either civilly or criminally. Many of these laws are also used during investigations of other federal contractors. The main laws involved in healthcare fraud investigations are the following:
False Claims Act. The False Claims Act (FCA) establishes liability for any person who knowingly submits a false claim to the government, or causes someone else to do so, in order to get that claim paid by the government. The FCA also prohibits wrongful actions taken to avoid paying the government its due. The FCA is the Justice Department’s main tool in pursuing healthcare fraud claims. The DOJ uses the FCA to prosecute alleged fraud involving federal healthcare payers, meaning Medicare, Medicaid, and other federally-sponsored insurers. The FCA has been used to pursue massive civil fines against healthcare providers, which can utterly cripple an unsuspecting business.
Health Care Fraud. The government can pursue criminal charges against anyone who “knowingly and willfully executes, or attempts to execute, a scheme or artifice . . . to defraud any health care benefit program.” Unlike the FCA, the health care fraud statute is not limited to federal payers; any healthcare-related fraud is punishable as a crime.
Anti-Kickback Statute. The Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) prohibits healthcare providers from obtaining anything of value in exchange for using certain medical providers or services. Physicians cannot collect kickbacks in exchange for recommending products or services payable under a federal health program. The federal AKS applies only to federal programs.
Stark Law. The Stark Law, much like the AKS, is aimed at preventing physicians from receiving kickbacks. The Stark Law is a set of federal healthcare fraud and abuse laws that prohibits physicians from referring Medicare patients to other entities with which the physician has a financial relationship.
This is far from an exhaustive list of the various regulations under which the government finds authority to investigate healthcare practices. If you are concerned about a pending investigation, call Keith B. French Law today for advice and assistance.
Federal Contractor Investigations
Healthcare providers are not the only entities to have ongoing relationships with the federal government. Winning a federal contract can be a huge boon for any goods or services provider, but working with the government comes with its own hassles and headaches. The federal contractor investigation attorney at Keith B. French Law assists contractors, big companies, small companies, non-profits, academic institutions, and all other organizations who have the combined fortune and misfortune of doing business with the federal government.
Keith B. French Law helps federal contractors with compliance matters, conducting internal investigations in advance of federal investigations, preparing for and responding to government investigations, investigating and responding to whistleblower complaints, and dealing with any civil charges that result from investigations. The Firm assists with FCA allegations, anti-kickback issues, corruption or bribery allegations, and any other fraud or misconduct matters that may arise in connection with a federal contract.
Protect Your Business Against Government Investigations
If you operate a business with a federal contract or a healthcare entity and you are facing the prospect of a government investigation, contact Keith B. French Law, PLLC. Attorney Keith B. French represents entities under investigation for healthcare fraud or federal contract issues throughout Pearland. Call Keith B. French Law today for a free consultation and find out how the Firm can protect your freedom, your finances, and your future.
