YOU MAY HAVE SEEN TODD SPODEK ON THE NETFLIX SHOW INVENTING ANNA
When you’re facing a federal issue, you need an attorney whose going to be available 24/7 to help you get the results and outcome you need. The value of working with the Spodek Law Group is that we treat each and every client like a member of our family.
Staten Island Medicaid Fraud Lawyers
Many New Yorkers who can’t afford to pay for their own medical care can receive benefits from a government program known as Medicaid. Each state in the United States designs its own Medicaid program. New York state is able to determine eligibility and other criteria for those who want to be on Medicaid. The current program is paid for by using funds from individual New York Counties as well as state and federal funding. This budget for the New York State medicaid program is over billion yearly.
Medicaid Fraud Schemes
There are a number of different Medicaid fraud schemes detected each year in New York.
*Medicaid Mills. These are companies started and designed to only get money by billing Medicaid programs. This is done without regard to the real medical needs of people within a community.
*Overbilling for Hourly Services. This includes such services as home health care and more. It involves submitting as well as approving time records for medical service providers that are false.
If you are looking for a lawyer that listens, is aggressive where needed, and holds his word above all else, Todd is the best pick. I had hired multiple attorneys prior to hiring the Spodek Group for a white collar case. The first thing that stood out to me was the cost, as anyone going through the process and dealing with the system, money was tight at that time - especially after hiring and firing multiple lawyers. The cost was not as high as others which was definitely a plus. Todd's intake process was also unlike other attorneys. He took the time to actually listen. He cared. He was trying to put himself in my shoes while I was explaining the situation to him and he really took the time to understand the whole situation. Other lawyers will give you 15 mins and send you a retainer agreement. Not Todd, I think he spent almost two hours with me as I was explaining everything.Not only was he great during the onboarding process, he was supportive and very informative through the entire plea process and eventually sentencing. After hiring him, I asked if I should hire a prison consultant, he told me to save my money as he would do everything they would. He was right and held up to his word. Later on I would hear from others that went with the prison consultants that they were a waste of money - I am glad I listened to Todd!When it came time for sentencing, two days prior to sentencing, the prosecutor tried increasing my proposed prison time by almost double - apparently a normal move. Todd and his team worked with me non-stop through the weekend prior to sentencing to ensure that I was not given additional prison time. Again, he took the time to listen and came up with a strategy to explain the case with great detail.Unfortunately, I did plead guilty as that was my best option. Todd and his whole team wrote up nearly 300 pages of a summary of what happened and why I should not be given prison time. If I breakdown the amount I spent with Todd versus the amount of work that I saw being done, I am shocked I was not charged four times as much. The other benefit was, a lot of criminal defense lawyers were just a single attorney with a paralegal or two. Todd had a team of people that I dealt with (5-7 people that I interacted with), but he was ALWAYS accessible. It would never take him more than an hour to reply unless he was in court.I was sentenced to prison and I was emotionally distraught. Todd and his team did whatever they could even after sentencing to make sure I was alright. He personally stayed in touch with my family to ensure I was doing alright and offered support to them. Most lawyers would consider the job complete at sentencing, not Todd.After prison, Todd still spent time with me to make sure I was on the right track and avoiding any potential risks in the future. He has also been giving advice on how to navigate probation etc and has not been looking at the clock for billing.Although I wish I had never been arrested in the first place, I am glad I had Todd and his team in my corner. Without them I likely would have had to spend a lot more time in prison than I did.Thank you, Todd, and the entire Spodek Law team, for helping turn what was a nightmare into a manageable situation!
I am immensely grateful to the entire team at Spodek Law Group for their unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise throughout my case. From our initial consultation to the final resolution, their professionalism and tireless advocacy made all the difference. Their strategic approach and attention to detail instilled confidence in me every step of the way.Thanks to their hard work and commitment, we achieved a truly favorable outcome that exceeded my expectations. Not only did they navigate the complexities of my case with precision, but they also provided invaluable support and guidance during what was undoubtedly a challenging time. I cannot recommend Spodek Law Group highly enough, especially attorneys Todd Spodek and Claire Banks; they are beacons of excellence in the legal profession.YSP.
Todd, Ralph and Alex are amazing. Helped my husband get from a double digit number with multiple charges to a single digit, by the time I blink he will be out. They very professional and help with all your needs. They dealt with my anxiety and worry very well and they understand that your family member needs to get home as soon as possible.
Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.
I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence.Thank you team!
I recently had Spodek Law Group represent me for a legal matter in NYC and I am thoroughly impressed with their services.Alex Zhik secured the best possible outcome for my case.It was a seamless journey from the initial consultation to the resolution of my legal matter. From the moment I spoke to Todd about my case, his enthusiasm to help was evident, setting a positive tone for the entire experience. The efficiency and professionalism displayed by the team is commendable.A particularly noteworthy aspect of their service is their user-friendly portal to upload your documents/evidence. This not only simplified the process, but showcases their commitment to streamline the client experience.Lastly, in an industry where legal fees can often be a concern, I found their pricing to be very reasonable, making needing legal assistance feel accessible and stress-free.I am grateful for their support and wouldn't hesitate to turn to them again in the future.
*Billing for Unnecessary Services. This involves submitting bills for payments of services not medically necessary.
*Upcoding or Billing for Services not Performed. This involves billing Medicaid for procedures that were more expensive than the services actually performed. It also involves billing for services not performed for a patient.
*Selling Prescriptions. This involves providing access to prescription drugs for the intentional misuse or abuse of them.
*Cash Payments. This happens when a Medicaid provider demands cash payment from a patient in addition to being paid by Medicaid.
*Double Billing. This results when a Medicaid provider bills a private insurance company as well as other service providers in addition to Medicaid for the same procedure.
*Employing Barred Health Professionals. It is against the law to hire healthcare professionals or any other type of staff who have previously been forbidden from working in government healthcare programs because of abusive practices or fraud.
*Kickbacks. This is when financial arrangements are made between service providers for some type of financial benefit so another provider can use their products or services. This often happens when unnecessary treatments are involved.
*Inflating Reimbursement Rates. There are some large institutions such as hospitals, clinics as well as nursing homes that will falsify their financial reports when rates are set. The goal is always to get more money than they are owed from Medicaid.
Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
The Attorney General in New York has a Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. It is responsible for investigating and prosecuting individuals and companies who engage in abuse and fraud of New York’s Medicaid program. This unit is the largest and oldest operating in New York dedicated to this purpose. It was created in 1975 and at that time was tasked with investigating New York’s widespread financial fraud associated with the state’s nursing homes. Today, the unit investigates and prosecutes all types of Medicaid providers including pharmacies, physicians, hospitals and more. During it first years in operation, the unit was able to convict nursing homes known for their fraud and abuse as well as recovering millions of dollars for the state in the form of restitution.
Penalties
Experts estimate Medicaid fraud costs taxpayers in the state of New York hundreds of millions of dollars each year. It is a serious offense and could involve a person being prosecuted in a criminal and civil court. When it comes to criminal trials, the type of case will be determined by the prosecutors. The penalties a person or company may receive from a civil trial could involve repayment of fund wrongfully obtained, non-payment for future claims as well as being excluded from participation in the Medicaid program. The results of a criminal trial could be serious fines as well as incarceration. In some cases, individuals have been given ten years in prison for each fraud conviction. If a patient experienced serious bodily harm resulting from Medicaid fraud, the provider could be given a 20-year sentence for each incident. Should a patient die because of Medicaid fraud, the guilty party could spend the rest of their life in prison.
Legal Defenses
There are certain legal defenses an experienced attorney will know how to use to successfully defend their client against charges of Medicaid fraud.
*Lack of Intent. It is possible for honest billing errors to result in a person or company being accused of Medicaid fraud. A prosecutor must attempt to prove the actions were based on malicious intent or ill-will. It is possible to demonstrate errors were the result of a new staff not yet properly trained, insufficient supervision and more. The goal of the defense is to show the mistakes were accidental and intentional fraud was not involved.
*Statutory Exceptions. In some situations, there are statutory exceptions. It’s possible to show the exceptions contained within the Start Law’s prohibiting physicians owning an ancillary company where patients are referred. These exceptions have often been used to lessen or eliminate a case against clients.
*Government Errors. There have been errors made by the government that have resulted in individuals and companies being falsely accused of Medicaid Fraud. It’s possible for the government to have incomplete or inaccurate records and more.
Legal Assistance
Being accused of Medicaid fraud is a serious situation. It will require the help of knowledgeable and experienced legal professionals. They will know what is required to achieve the best possible outcome for an individual’s situation.
