Dallas Healthcare Fraud Lawyer
» Print This PageFederal Healthcare Fraud Charges Can End Your Career. You Need a Lawyer Who Knows How to Fight Back.
A federal healthcare fraud investigation can destroy everything you have built.
Your medical practice, your professional reputation, your financial security, and your personal freedom are all on the line when the federal government accuses you of defrauding Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance programs.
These are not simple billing disputes that will resolve themselves.
Federal prosecutors and agencies like the Department of Justice, the Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation treat healthcare fraud charges as serious federal crimes carrying prison sentences of 10 years or more.
Dallas is one of nine cities in the United States with a dedicated Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which means federal investigators are actively targeting medical professionals and healthcare providers in this region.
The complexity of CPT codes, HCPCS billing procedures, and constantly changing healthcare regulations creates a dangerous environment where legitimate medical services can be mischaracterized as fraudulent claims.
What you believe is proper billing may look like billing fraud to investigators who lack medical training.
A coding error repeated across hundreds of claims appears intentional to federal prosecutors building a case against you.
Documentation that seemed adequate at the time of service may be insufficient to defend against allegations of submitting false claims to government healthcare programs.
Healthcare fraud charges carry devastating consequences beyond criminal penalties.
A conviction means exclusion from Medicare and Medicaid, effectively ending your ability to practice medicine.
Medical boards will review your license.
Your professional reputation will suffer irreparable damage.
Even an investigation without charges can trigger audits, recoupment demands, and civil monetary penalties that threaten your financial stability.
The federal government recovers billions of dollars annually through healthcare fraud enforcement, and your case represents another statistic they are eager to add to their record.
You need a Dallas healthcare fraud lawyer who understands both the criminal defense and healthcare regulatory aspects of these cases.
How Michael Lowe Can Help You Fight Federal Healthcare Fraud Charges
Defending against healthcare fraud allegations requires more than standard criminal defense work.
These cases demand detailed knowledge of Medicare and Medicaid billing rules, federal healthcare statutes, and the investigative tactics used by federal agencies.
Michael Lowe brings over two decades of experience defending medical professionals and healthcare providers against federal healthcare fraud allegations.
Medicare Fraud Defense
Medicare fraud cases represent the most common federal healthcare fraud prosecutions in Dallas.
Federal investigators scrutinize billing patterns, claim documentation, and patient records looking for evidence of fraudulent claims submitted to government healthcare programs.
Michael Lowe challenges the government’s interpretation of billing practices, works with medical billing experts to explain legitimate coding decisions, and fights allegations of phantom billing, upcoding, and unbundling at every stage of the case.
Medicaid Fraud Defense
Medicaid fraud charges often involve allegations of billing for services not rendered, providing medically unnecessary treatments, or falsifying patient eligibility information.
The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit works alongside federal prosecutors to investigate healthcare providers suspected of defrauding state and federal Medicaid programs.
Michael Lowe defends physicians, clinics, home health agencies, and other providers against Medicaid fraud allegations by examining the specific facts of each case and challenging the government’s evidence.
False Claims Act Violations
The False Claims Act allows the federal government to pursue civil and criminal penalties against anyone who knowingly submits false or fraudulent claims for payment.
Qui tam lawsuits brought by whistleblowers can trigger federal investigations that result in massive financial penalties and criminal prosecution.
Michael Lowe represents healthcare providers facing False Claims Act allegations, working to resolve cases before criminal charges are filed whenever possible.
Anti-Kickback Statute Defense
The Anti-Kickback Statute makes it a federal crime to offer, pay, solicit, or receive anything of value in exchange for referrals of patients covered by federal healthcare programs.
Violations carry criminal penalties including up to 10 years in federal prison and exclusion from Medicare and Medicaid.
Michael Lowe analyzes business arrangements, physician relationships, and referral patterns to defend against kickback allegations and identify applicable safe harbor protections.
Stark Law Violations
The Stark Law prohibits physicians from referring patients to entities where they have a financial relationship for certain designated health services.
While Stark Law violations are civil matters, they often accompany criminal healthcare fraud charges and can result in significant financial penalties and program exclusion.
Michael Lowe helps healthcare providers understand their exposure under the Stark Law and develops defense strategies that address both civil and criminal liability.
Billing Fraud Defense
Allegations of improper billing practices form the foundation of most healthcare fraud cases.
Upcoding, unbundling, billing for services not rendered, and billing for medically unnecessary services are common accusations that federal prosecutors use to build fraud cases.
Michael Lowe works with medical billing specialists to analyze billing records, explain legitimate coding practices, and challenge the government’s characterization of billing errors as criminal fraud.
Prescription Fraud Defense
Healthcare providers face federal charges when prescriptions are allegedly written without medical necessity or outside the usual course of professional practice.
DEA investigations into prescribing patterns can lead to healthcare fraud charges, drug distribution charges, and loss of prescribing privileges.
Michael Lowe defends physicians and other prescribers against allegations that their prescribing practices constituted fraudulent conduct.
Government Investigations Response
The most critical time in a healthcare fraud case is often before charges are filed.
When federal agents contact you, when you receive a subpoena for medical records, or when you learn your billing practices are under review, the decisions you make will shape the outcome of your case.
Michael Lowe represents healthcare professionals and providers during the investigation stage, protecting their rights while working to prevent criminal prosecution.
Federal Healthcare Fraud Charges Require Specialized Defense.
Federal healthcare fraud cases differ fundamentally from other criminal matters.
The federal government has virtually unlimited resources to investigate and prosecute these cases.
Federal prosecutors work alongside investigators from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Medicare Fraud Strike Force.
They use data analytics to identify billing patterns, grand jury subpoenas to gather evidence, and cooperating witnesses to build conspiracy cases.
The penalties for federal healthcare fraud under 18 U.S.C. 1347 reflect how seriously the government treats these cases.
A standard healthcare fraud conviction carries up to 10 years in federal prison.
If the fraud results in serious bodily injury to any patient, the maximum sentence increases to 20 years.
If the fraud results in death, you face potential life imprisonment.
Beyond prison time, healthcare fraud convictions trigger mandatory exclusion from federal healthcare programs, massive financial penalties, and complete destruction of your medical career.
Why Micheal Lowe Is Your Best Choice For Defending Healthcare Fraud Charges
Federal prosecutors assume healthcare providers will fold under pressure.
Michael Lowe spent years on the other side of the courtroom as a Dallas County prosecutor, which means he knows exactly how the government builds fraud cases, where they cut corners, and what makes them abandon prosecutions.
That experience matters when federal agents show up at your practice or a grand jury subpoena lands on your desk.
Board Certification in Criminal Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization separates Michael Lowe from general practice attorneys who occasionally handle criminal matters.
Less than 10% of Texas lawyers earn this certification, and it requires proving substantial criminal trial experience, passing a rigorous specialty exam, and maintaining ongoing education specifically in criminal defense.
When your medical license and freedom are at stake, you need that level of specialization.
Over 150 jury trials have taught Michael Lowe what actually wins cases, not what looks good on paper.
He is admitted to all four federal district courts in Texas, so regardless of where federal prosecutors file healthcare fraud charges against you, he can defend you.
Get the Aggressive Federal Healthcare Fraud Defense You Need Now
Your career, your freedom, and your future depend on the defense you mount against federal healthcare fraud charges.
Every day you wait gives federal prosecutors more time to build their case against you.
Michael Lowe offers free and confidential consultations to healthcare professionals and providers facing federal fraud investigations or charges.
Time matters in these cases.
Early intervention often determines whether a matter resolves without charges or proceeds to federal prosecution.
Call now to discuss your situation with a Board Certified criminal defense attorney who has the experience and knowledge to fight federal healthcare fraud allegations.
Do not speak with federal investigators before you have legal representation protecting your rights.
Contact Michael Lowe today on (214) 526-1900.
Your defense starts with one call.
Frequently Asked Questions About Healthcare Fraud Charges
What are the penalties for federal healthcare fraud in Texas?
Federal healthcare fraud under 18 U.S.C. 1347 carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for a standard conviction. If the fraud causes serious bodily injury to any person, the maximum increases to 20 years. If the fraud results in death, the defendant faces up to life in federal prison. Additional penalties include substantial fines, restitution, and mandatory exclusion from Medicare and Medicaid programs.
How do federal healthcare fraud investigations begin?
Federal healthcare fraud investigations typically begin through data analytics that identify unusual billing patterns, whistleblower complaints filed under the False Claims Act, or referrals from Medicare and Medicaid auditors. The Medicare Fraud Strike Force in Dallas actively monitors billing data for statistical anomalies that suggest fraudulent activity. By the time a healthcare provider learns of an investigation, federal agents may have been building the case for months or years.
What should I do if federal agents contact me about healthcare fraud?
Do not speak with federal investigators without legal representation. Anything you say can be used against you, and investigators are trained to obtain admissions during what appears to be a casual conversation. Contact a Dallas healthcare fraud lawyer immediately. Michael Lowe can communicate with federal authorities on your behalf while protecting your rights and developing a defense strategy.
What is the difference between civil and criminal healthcare fraud?
Civil healthcare fraud cases result in monetary penalties, recoupment demands, and potential exclusion from federal healthcare programs. Criminal healthcare fraud cases can result in federal prison time in addition to financial penalties and program exclusion. The same conduct can trigger both civil and criminal liability, and a civil audit or investigation can escalate to criminal prosecution if the government believes it has evidence of intentional fraud.
Can billing errors lead to federal healthcare fraud charges?
Yes. While innocent billing errors are not criminal, federal prosecutors often characterize repeated coding mistakes as evidence of intentional fraud. When the same error appears across many claims, prosecutors argue the pattern proves knowledge and intent. A Dallas healthcare fraud defense lawyer can work with medical billing experts to demonstrate that billing irregularities resulted from complex regulations or clerical errors rather than fraudulent intent.
What is the Anti-Kickback Statute?
The Anti-Kickback Statute is a federal criminal law that prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving anything of value to induce referrals of patients covered by federal healthcare programs. Violations carry up to 10 years in federal prison and mandatory exclusion from Medicare and Medicaid. Certain business arrangements qualify for safe harbor protection, but the requirements are technical and strictly interpreted.
What is the False Claims Act?
The False Claims Act imposes civil and criminal liability on anyone who knowingly submits false or fraudulent claims to the federal government. In healthcare fraud cases, this typically involves billing Medicare or Medicaid for services not rendered, services that were not medically necessary, or services provided by unlicensed personnel. Penalties include treble damages plus civil fines exceeding $11,000 per false claim.
How long do federal healthcare fraud investigations take?
Federal healthcare fraud investigations often continue for years before the government files charges. Prosecutors use this time to review billing records, interview witnesses, obtain grand jury testimony, and build the strongest possible case. Early intervention by experienced defense counsel can sometimes resolve matters during the investigation stage, avoiding criminal charges entirely.
Can I lose my medical license for healthcare fraud?
Yes. A federal healthcare fraud conviction will result in exclusion from Medicare and Medicaid, making it effectively impossible to practice medicine. Medical boards will also review your license and may impose disciplinary action including suspension or revocation. Even allegations without conviction can trigger medical board investigations that threaten your ability to practice.
