Medical Professionals Across America Named In Health Care Actions By DOJ

Health Care Defense Attorney Comments On Recent Health Care And Medicare Investigations By Federal Authorities

Dallas, United States – August 11, 2017 /PressCable/ —

James S. Bell, PC, a law firm with offices in Texas and California, today announced that it has extended its legal practice areas in the health care fraud and Medicare fraud defense area to doctors, physicians, nurses, other health care providers and business associates who could be affected by recent investigations by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Medicare Fraud Strike Force.

On July 13, 2017, the United States Department of Justice issued a press release announcing a health care fraud takedown which involved 412 individuals. Defendants were charged across the United States and included doctors, nurses, and other health care providers in schemes totaling near $1.3 billion. Opioid and other narcotics prescriptions and distributions were cited as a significant portion of the enforcement actions, and the press release went on to say, “Thirty state Medicaid Fraud Control Units also participated in today’s arrests. In addition, HHS has initiated suspension actions against 295 providers, including doctors, nurses and pharmacists.”

Trial attorney James S. Bell said, “In these kinds of sweeping cases, unfortunately some health care professionals named in these charges are included when they, in reality, have no actual involvement with the charges being made. A wide range of charges can be brought against these professionals including “low hanging fruit” charges such as making false statements to a Federal officer when such an officer shows up in the evening at the home of one of the named health care providers.”

Bell continued, “We have years of experience defending and clearing the names of honest health care professionals when being investigated or charged with crimes such as violations of the Anti-kickback statute (and Stark Law), False Claims Act, CLIA violations, fraudulent billing of Medicare, Department of Labor (DOL) investigations and several other Federal health care violations.”

“In addition to the July 13 announcement,” he continued, “Another recent announcement includes a $1 billion Medicare fraud case involving bribery and a nursing home owner in South Florida.” According to WEAR-TV, the article states that the Miami Herald said this case is the nation’s biggest Medicare fraud.

The July press release from the DOJ went on to say, “The charges announced today aggressively target schemes billing Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE (a health insurance program for members and veterans of the armed forces and their families) for medically unnecessary prescription drugs and compounded medications that often were never even purchased and/or distributed to beneficiaries. The charges also involve individuals contributing to the opioid epidemic, with a particular focus on medical professionals involved in the unlawful distribution of opioids and other prescription narcotics, a particular focus for the Department. According to the CDC, approximately 91 Americans die every day of an opioid related overdose.”

According to Bell, his law firm handles federal health care cases and investigations for the situations listed earlier. The firm also handles cases pertaining to Qui Tam (whistleblower), laboratories (e.g. blood, urine and toxicology) and financial interests benefitting referring doctors, issues pertaining to compounding pharmacies, waivers of deductibles, DEA registrant investigations and suspensions and similar legal situations.

Interested parties wishing to contact the firm may do so through the firm’s website or by dialing either (855) 337-6836 or (214) 668-9000. Media wishing to interview Attorney Bell on the topic of federal health care legal issues and other legal matters may do so through the same means.

Contact Info:
Name: James S. Bell
Organization: James S. Bell, PC
Address: 2808 Cole Avenue Suite 1000, Dallas, TX 75204, United States
Phone: +1-855-337-6836

For more information, please visit http://jamesbellpc.com

Source: PressCable

Release ID: 228421