When someone becomes the focus of a Medicaid investigation, their first act should be to hire a good Staten Island lawyer. The kind of criminal defense attorney Staten Island residents rely on can help people prepare for such an investigation and understand their rights. If you were wondering what triggered the investigation, it helps to understand the major red flags Medicaid looks for when investigating people who get their benefits.
You Do Not Apply For Food Stamps
When people apply for Medicaid health insurance coverage, they do so because they can barely afford the bare necessities of life. Along with Medicaid, most states also offer rent assistance programs, food stamps, and other financial assistance programs that help out low income people. If all you are getting is Medicaid health insurance, then that is going to look strange to a Medicaid investigator and that could trigger an investigation.
You’re Able To Make Other Payments
People who get Medicaid health insurance and make $400.00 car payments every month tend to get investigated for Medicaid fraud. It looks out of place to an investigator for someone who relies on a public health insurance program to be able to pay for a nice car, or any other type of item that could be considered a luxury. There are situations where people are allowed to have transportation if they are receiving other kinds of financial support, but then the source of those other kinds of financial support come into question.
Giving Improper Information
If you give Medicaid false information about things such as your rent and bills, then that can lead to an investigation as well. Some people will get landlords to generate letters saying that the recipient pays $1,000.00 or more in rent to make their claim look better to Medicaid. But when that is investigated and the truth is found out, the Medicaid recipient could be facing fines and jail time for lying about their rent.
Relatives
Everyone gets financial help from parents or relatives once in a while, but Medicaid frowns on financial help given constantly by family members. For example, if your parents are giving you a monthly allowance that you did not report to Medicaid, then that can be construed as fraud. It is always best to tell the truth about financial assistance received from your relatives when filling out Medicaid forms, or else you should be prepared to face the consequences.
When you receive a notice from Medicaid that you are being investigated for fraud, the investigators are looking to confirm their suspicions. In other words, you are under suspicion until you can prove that you are not guilty. Medicaid fraud is not something to fool around with. If you get a Medicaid fraud notice, you should hire an experienced and qualified Staten Island lawyer right away.