A criminal conviction of any sort has the potential to significantly affect a person's reputation and the future of their career. For medical professionals accused of healthcare fraud, however, the impact on their professional practice can be particularly severe. Examples of healthcare fraud include negligent prescriptions, overbilling and dishonesty surrounding Medicare or Medicaid. As a medical professional, it is important to fully understand how a healthcare fraud convic

When safety is a concern in any job, many employers opt to test workers for drug use. According to Indeed, a routine drug test can come from a sample of your saliva, urine or even hair. Your drug screens may be random or occur after an accident or some other event, of course. If you use drugs, an employment-related drug test might make you feel uneasy. After all, failing a drug test is likely to result in the termination of your employment. Can your employer report a failed

Drug charges in Texas carry heavy penalties, including fines and jail time. If charged with drug possession in Texas, the state must prove possession. This may sound simple at first, but you can face possession charges, even if you did not have the drugs on your person. Drug possession charges include active and construction. How the law defines constructive possession Constructive possession means that the officers did find drugs or drug paraphernalia, but not on your perso

Bank fraud can vary greatly. It always involves finances. The harm is usually a large loss of money by the victim. While this crime can occur in a variety of ways and involve different types of banks, high-yield investment fraud involves prime banks. Carrying on the scam In this type of bank fraud, a person attempts to scam the victim by using financial instruments that allegedly come from prime banks. These instruments are completely fake. They do not exist and hold no valu

When it comes to criminal offenses, you could lose your eligibility for financial aid. In the past, students could lose their eligibility for minor drug offenses, but now, you may still qualify, regardless of your offense. If you face drug charges while receiving financial aid, you do not have to worry about a suspension of aid. However, you could encounter obstacles if you face incarceration for those crimes. Should you apply for financial aid if incarcerated? In prison, yo

Physicians who bill Medicare have a duty to be honest and forthright in how they conduct themselves. There are a variety of laws regarding Medicare fraud and abuse, and the penalties for breaking them are stiff. Fraud and abuse differ in certain ways, but they both result in unnecessary costs. Even if a doctor has good intentions, some of their actions may result in abuse. Fraud vs abuse The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services defines the differences between fraud and

As healthcare professionals, it's your duty to ensure that your patients receive the best possible care. However, with the opioid epidemic becoming a major public health crisis, prioritizing proper medication management is more critical than ever. Patients prescribed opioids or other highly addictive medications are at risk of overdose and other negative consequences if not properly monitored. Here's what you should know about the importance of proper medication management

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, more commonly known as RICO, is a federal statute passed by Congress in 1970. Its original purpose was to give federal investigators and prosecutors the power and authority they needed to combat organized crime. FindLaw explains, however, that in the ensuing 53 years, RICO has expanded to include 35 separate crimes, such as the following: * Murder for hire * Embezzlement * Money laundering * Illegal gambling * Counterfe

If police officers believe you might have participated in some criminal activity, they are going to want to talk to you eventually. Being in an interrogation room can be an intimidating and downright scary experience. If you are thinking about cooperating with the police, you should know that you are likely to be at an extreme disadvantage. After all, according to reporting from The Guardian, officers often use interrogation techniques that lead to false confessions. Lying t

Maintaining good health must be one of your top priorities in life. After all, if you are not feeling well, you might not be able to work, take care of your children or enjoy your hobbies. Luckily, today's doctors have a variety of tools for diagnosing and treating many ailments. According to the American Cancer Society, it is appropriate to seek a second opinion when you have a serious medical condition or are weighing different treatment options. If you see more than one p

When under a police investigation, the outcome may have endless possibilities. The sooner you get legal assistance, the better your odds during the investigation or after an arrest. While you may feel that you should wait, consider the following reasons to hire a lawyer. 1. Maintain constitutional rights While you legally must tell the police the truth or face severe consequences, the police do not have such a requirement. If you become the target of an investigation, the po

When dealing with the possibility of a police interrogation or interview, many people are not sure of what to do. First and foremost, it is important to understand your Miranda rights in these situations. Remaining silent in an interrogation Miranda Warning discusses how your Miranda rights work in reality. Many people initially get exposure to the concept through police shows or movies, where the police always mention a suspect's "right to remain silent". But what does this

Many people join the field of health care to assist others. Unfortunately, no one is perfect, and mistakes can happen. When a medical practitioner commits an error, the individual may face accusations of fraud. Understanding the most common forms of health care fraud can help a person stay on the lookout for mistakes or prepare to fight an unjust charge. Permitting staff and nurses to do physician examinations While understaffed or behind schedule, a doctor or facility might

The pre-indictment stage of the federal criminal process is complex. You will find a brief overview of it here, addressed generally to the interests of people who find themselves, their business partners or their organizations under investigation. In general, pre-indictment refers to what happens before a federal charge. It leads up to your first court appearance for most cases, which is a hearing before a grand jury. Investigations By the time you learn that you might face

Federal judges are routinely violating the pretrial rights of people charged with crimes, according to a recent report. Additionally, the report found that people of color are disproportionately affected by this practice. How are federal courts allegedly violating people's rights and why are people of color more affected? Unlawful pretrial detentions Pretrial incarceration rates increased from 29% to 75% after the enactment of the Bail Reform Act of 1984. Researchers found t

Deception used to make monetary gain carries extreme legal repercussions in the state of Texas. What might seem like a rather insignificant action on your part can impact many people. When you understand the most common consequences of committing bank fraud, you can identify your next steps. Imprisonment Perhaps the most obvious consequence is imprisonment. According to The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, bank fraud includes the collection of assets, funds, credits, s

Painkillers, CNS, stimulants, anti-depressants and other medications help hundreds of thousands of people every single day. However, there are also many people who abuse these medications. Unfortunately, drug addiction and abuse exist even within the healthcare industry. It can lead to prescription fraud because that is a relatively easy and accessible avenue for people to get their fix. What is prescription fraud? Texas state statutes go into detail about defining prescript

If you currently find yourself in the middle of a drug-related case, it is essential to understand what is at stake and safeguard your future. Drug offenses take many different forms, and some result in federal charges. While most people realize that trafficking and manufacturing drugs can lead to significant penalties, some do not understand that possessing small amounts of certain drugs and drug paraphernalia can lead to harsh penalties as well. In fact, charges related to

When federal authorities believe you committed a federal offense, they may decide to have the appropriate federal agency investigate the matter further. Federal investigations work differently than Texas criminal cases, and there are several different steps involved in the pre-trial stage of a federal case. Per the FBI, depending on circumstances, you may have the option of issuing a guilty plea to a federal offense as part of a plea bargain. It is up to the government, and

Healthcare fraud can occur at many levels. Patients, doctors, other medical professionals and facilities can commit this type of crime. There is a misunderstanding that healthcare fraud has no victims, but the FBI explains there are many ways this crime harms a variety of people. Taxes Healthcare fraud can increase taxes for everyone. When the crime involves Medicaid or Medicare, which are funded by taxpayers, it costs more money to every person who pays taxes. It can eventu