Whistleblower reporting an instance of medicare fraud.

How to Report Medicare Fraud

Medicare fraud costs the government a tremendous amount of money each year. In fact, the government estimates that Medicare fraud costs approximately $60 billion a year. In order to combat this practice and encourage individuals to report Medicare fraud, the government offers those who report fraud, also known as “whistleblowers,” financial compensation. Therefore, if you know that an individual or entity has committed Medicare fraud, it is in your best interest to report it as soon as possible. Below is an overview of how to report Medicare fraud. After you review this information, please contact our Medicare fraud whistleblower attorney to begin the reporting process. 

What is Medicare Fraud?

Medicare fraud is a term that refers to an attempt to illegally claim money from the Medicare program. Providers, insurers, and others commit Medicare fraud in many ways, including:

  • Billing for unnecessary items or medical services, 
  • Billing for items or medical services that were never provided,
  • Billing for brand name drugs when generics are provided,
  • Unbundling services to increase revenue, and
  • Providing kickbacks for patient or business referrals.

Reporting Medicare Fraud 

There are several ways to report Medicare fraud, one of which is to contact the Office of the Inspector General via phone, email, or in person. By reporting Medicare fraud directly to the Office of the Inspector General, you may be eligible for up to $1,000 in compensation. 

A second way to report Medicare fraud is to file a False Claims Act (“FCA”) claim against the perpetrator of the fraud. In an FCA claim, an individual who has evidence of Medicare fraud files a suit against the offending parties, and the federal government has the option of joining the claim as a party. When an FCA claim is successful, the whistleblower is eligible for a reward of up to 30% of the government’s total recovery. Depending on the amount recovered, this could equal a substantial sum of money. However, filing an FCA claim requires significant legal knowledge, so you shouldn’t attempt to do so without the assistance of a Medicare fraud whistleblower attorney. 

Contact a Medicare fraud whistleblower attorney  

When you report Medicare fraud, you assist the government in recovering taxpayer money and put yourself in a position to receive a monetary reward. However, a single misstep during the process can limit the usefulness of the information you provide and reduce or eliminate your chances of financial recovery. Therefore, before you take any of the steps above, you should contact a Medicare fraud whistleblower attorney for assistance. At Jeff Newman Law, we’ll help you accumulate the documentation you need to file your claim and guide you through the process in a manner that ensures you remain legally protected. In addition, we’ll use our vast experience in Medicare fraud whistleblower cases to improve your chances of financial recovery. Please contact us today for a consultation.