Experienced Orlando Healthcare Fraud Defense Attorneys
Most healthcare providers work hard to care for patients and bill insurance correctly. However, state and federal agencies often dispute routine payments. Government auditors can easily mistake simple paperwork mistakes for intentional fraud.
At Lindsey, Ferry & Parker, P.A., we provide strong defense for doctors, clinic owners and medical staff facing fraud investigations in Orlando and Maitland and across central Florida. Our attorneys bring over 60 years of combined experience to your defense. We understand complex medical billing systems. We also know how to protect your practice, license and freedom.
Understanding Healthcare Fraud Laws
Government agencies use several key laws to punish providers accused of improper billing:
- The Healthcare Fraud Statute makes it a federal crime to knowingly deceive any health insurance plan.
- The False Claims Act punishes individuals or medical offices that submit fake billing claims to the government.
- The Anti-Kickback Statute bans paying or receiving financial rewards for patient referrals or prescriptions.
- Exclusion provisions allow officials to ban convicted providers from treating Medicare or Medicaid patients.
- The Civil Monetary Penalties Law imposes heavy financial fines for minor billing violations.
Navigating these strict regulations requires prompt action and a solid defense plan.
Fighting Medicare Fraud Allegations In Central Florida
Federal task forces in Orlando constantly check billing data and electronic records for unusual activity. They often move quickly when they suspect billing fraud.
Common allegations against local healthcare providers include:
- Billing for unprovided care: Claiming payments for visits, tests or procedures that never happened.
- Upcoding and unbundling: Using higher billing codes than necessary or splitting service codes to boost payouts.
- Ordering unneeded care: Performing medical tests or treatments that lack documented clinical need.
- Illegal referral deals: Paying or accepting money in exchange for patient referrals or drug prescriptions.
- Prescription fraud: Writing unauthorized prescriptions or running improper pharmacy operations.
Our team works directly with billing experts and accountants to show you acted in good faith and to challenge the government’s claims.
Penalties Under State And Federal Law
Healthcare fraud charges threaten your freedom, money and career. Prosecutors aggressively push for strict punishments in these cases:
- Prison time: Federal charges carry up to 10 years in prison per count, while sentences for Florida felony charges range from five to 30 years based on the total money involved.
- Heavy fines: Courts force you to repay the disputed money, plus civil penalties that cost thousands per claim.
- Loss of medical license: Florida boards routinely suspend or take away medical, nursing or pharmacy licenses after a conviction.
- Program bans: Convicted providers lose the right to bill Medicare, Medicaid or TRICARE permanently.
Because these penalties ruin careers, our attorneys will step in early to protect your practice before charges stick.
Proven Legal Defense For Orlando Healthcare Providers
When federal agents or state investigators audit your practice, your legal team’s experience matters. At Lindsey, Ferry & Parker, P.A., we combine high-level credentials with direct, personal attention:
- Board certified trial lawyers: Attorneys Warren Lindsey and Ashley D. Parker hold board certification in criminal trial law. This is a distinction held by less than 1% of Florida lawyers.
- Award-winning counsel: Attorney Warren Lindsey is AV Preeminent peer-review rated* through Martindale-Hubbell and was named White Collar Crime Defense Lawyer of the Year by Orlando Magazine.
- Focused experience: We defend doctors, pharmacists, clinic owners and behavioral health centers against state and federal allegations.
We will use these honors and decades of trial experience to build a tailored strategy for your defense.
Safeguard Your Practice And Professional License Today
A healthcare audit or subpoena does not have to end your career. The choices you make when investigators first contact you will directly shape your future. If government agents or insurance auditors reach out to you, do not answer questions or share records without your lawyer present.
Call our Orlando healthcare defense team 24/7 at 407-278-7692 or contact us online to schedule your free, confidential consultation.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories — legal ability and general ethical standards.