As you know, the government’s Medicaid program enables low-income Americans to receive health care. It is a hugely important program, especially for children, pregnant women and many others who would otherwise be unable to afford medical care. Unfortunately, the program is also ripe for fraud attempts by unscrupulous health care providers.
Some examples of common Medicaid fraud attempts include:
— Performing unnecessary health care services to increase billing
— Billing for services that were not provided
— Billing for a more costly procedure than the one performed
Blowing the whistle on any organization attempting to defraud the Medicaid program is important for residents of Detroit because it helps to protect the service itself. Becoming a whistleblower for Medicaid fraud is one of the most important acts a citizen can do for his or her country or state.
If you know of or suspect fraud against the Medicaid program, you should probably talk to an attorney before blowing the whistle. A lawyer can go into detail about how to report the fraud while also providing you with advice for protection. Below are some important elements of becoming a whistleblower.
— Be prepared not to talk about your whistleblower plans or activities.
— Know that you will have to prove that Medicaid fraud occurred.
— Understand that your whistleblower activities will likely become public knowledge.
— If you are offered bribes or payoffs in return for your silence about fraud, do not be tempted to accept them.
Choosing to become a whistleblower should not be lightly undertaken. It is definitely in your best interests to discuss your case in great detail with a whistleblower attorney before making a decision.
Source: Medicaid Fraud Hotline, “The 10-Step Guide To Blowing the Whistle on Medicaid Fraud,” accessed July 06, 2017