Healthcare fraud falls under the umbrella of standard fraud crimes in Texas. A healthcare fraud conviction in the Lone Star State could mean severe criminal consequences. You could face hefty fines, jail time and penalties such as losing a license to practice medicine.
If you are dealing with healthcare fraud charges or accusations in Austin, a lawyer could help you craft a defense and minimize the penalties you face.
Healthcare fraud punishments in Texas
A healthcare fraud conviction can lead to a range of punishments according to the severity of the crime. It could be a misdemeanor or a felony offense based on the nature of the incident. If you receive a conviction for a misdemeanor healthcare fraud crime of less than $100, you could receive a Class C misdemeanor and a maximum fine of $500.
If your crime involves between $100 and $2,500 in losses, you could face a Class B or Class A misdemeanor. A felony healthcare fraud conviction ($2,500 to $30,000 claim) comes with 180 days to two years in state jail and/or $10,000 in fines. A criminal defense attorney may be able to convince a judge to charge you for a lesser crime than what the prosecution recommended based on the facts of the case or a clean prior record.
Penalties for Medicaid fraud
Texas Penal Code section 35A.01 refers specifically to the crime of Medicaid fraud. Committing this offense means intentionally defrauding the federal Medicaid program. This could result in a misdemeanor or felony charge depending on the circumstances of the crime. The consequences of a misdemeanor Medicaid fraud conviction range from fines to jail time.
If your fraud crime constitutes a felony, you could face 180 days to 99 years in prison, on top of hefty fines of up to $10,000. A Medicaid fraud crime could result in a maximum sentence if the convicted’s actions caused harm or death to someone else.
