Medicare fraud: defendant doctor MD exonerated by jury

It might have been the video recordings.

Or, more specifically, the lack thereof, that materially influenced a jury and persuaded it to deliver a not guilty verdict in a federal Medicare fraud case recently.

That case centrally involved federal prosecutors’ allegations that one long-time medical practitioner was a co-conspirator in a massive fraud scheme that bilked taxpayers of scores of millions of dollars over many years.

Over a three-day trial, jurors watched multiple videotapes showing various doctors referring patients to select home health care entities that subsequently provided them with services and treatments that were unnecessary. Several individuals were convicted of falsely billing Medicare for those services, with a portion of the illicit proceeds going to the referring physicians.

Tellingly, there was not a shred of evidence from any tapes played during the doctor’s trial that implicated him in any wrongdoing.

And that turned out to be important. Although several other doctors were criminally charged on fraud counts and pleaded guilty to accepting referral kickbacks, jurors acquitted the doctor — a cardiologist — on the single conspiracy count he had faced alleging fraud on the government.

The trial occurred in South Florida, where health care-related fraud is an outsized concern. The matter commands clear relevance across the country, though, including in Houston and throughout Texas, given the heightened focus of state and federal regulators everywhere with false Medicare billings.

Authorities have plenary power and resources readily available to them to conduct fraud investigations and target individuals in probes.

It can be of compelling importance for any person who is suspected of fraud-related activities to secure the prompt and aggressive assistance of a proven defense attorney.

An experienced legal team can craft sound and tailored strategies geared toward the fullest mitigation of adverse consequences.

And, moreover (as notably seen in the above case), a strong defense can sometimes also bring a full acquittal for an individual accused of criminal wrongdoing.

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