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.
Client Testimonials
5
THE BEST LAWYER ANYONE COULD ASK FOR.
The BEST LAWYER ANYONE COULD ASK FOR!!! Todd changed our lives! He’s not JUST a lawyer representing us for a case. Todd and his office have become Family. When we entered his office in August of 2022, we entered with such anxiety, uncertainty, and so much stress. Honestly we were very lost. My husband and I felt alone. How could a lawyer who didn’t know us, know our family, know our background represents us, When this could change our lives for the next 5-7years that my husband was facing in Federal jail. By the time our free consultation was over with Todd, we left his office at ease. All our questions were answered and we had a sense of relief.
It is difficult to track the amount of money healthcare programs pay as a result of Medicaid and Medicare fraud and abuse, thus wasting the US federal budget. Therefore, the US law enforcement places high priority on auditing, investigating and prosecuting cases of healthcare fraud. Thus, it is important to learn about what to do in order to avoid it, what can trigger such investigations and what to do if targeted by the authorities.
Medicare Fraud: Definition and Its Types
First of all, it is necessary to figure out the difference between Medicare fraud and Medicare abuse and what constitutes each of them.
Medicare fraud
It is a situation when services provided by the healthcare programs are deliberately misrepresented in order to obtain profit. The common types are the following:
intentionally billing for services other than the patient actually received;
paying for referrals.
Medicare abuse
It is a situation when patients are either intentionally or unintentionally prescribed unnecessary medical services, or these services either don’t meet the necessary standards or are not priced correctly.
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.
Both of the above can result in criminal prosecution or civil litigation.
Another type of division of healthcare fraud stems from who performs the crime, with major types being the following:
committed by provider, for instance, falsification of a diagnosis, prescribing unnecessary tests, prescribing medicines to be later used by someone other than the patient, etc.;
committed by patient: providing false details to apply for healthcare services or supplies; forging or altering receipts, etc.;
committed by insurer, for example, denying valid claims, providing misleading information about benefits, etc.
Medicare Fraud and Abuse Related Legislative Documents
Compliance with the standards of the national healthcare programs are regulated by the following laws:
False Claims Act (FCA), which protects the US government from being excessively charged for services provided to the citizens through healthcare programs and also sold medical services or supplies that do not correspond to the necessary standards;
Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and Physician Self-Referral Law (Stark Law), which ensure liability of those who intentionally engage in providing referrals for medical services or supplies for the purpose of gaining profit.
Other legislative documents also include Social Security Act, United States Criminal Code, Civil Monetary Penalties Law, and Criminal Health Care Fraud Statute.
These documents provide that those found guilty of fraud may be sentenced to imprisonment, large fines or other penalties. As you see, medicaid and Medicare fraud are serious crimes, and if a person is under investigation for them, they would definitely need assistance of a Medicaid fraud attorney.
How to Avoid Medicare Fraud
Guidelines for healthcare professionals
Be aware of the law. Even if you are not aware of the fact that some of your actions or those of your employees might be fraudulent, it won’t absolve you from the liability in the end. You can find the list of laws applying to your practice above. Pay special attention to the first two points on the list.
Make sure the billing and coding practices are in order. Regularly check the records for mistakes, and if any, be sure to disclose them to your employer who then should pass this information on to a regulatory agency that your workplace reports to.
Guidelines for healthcare programs beneficiaries
Be aware of the law and read carefully all papers you sign when applying for healthcare benefits. Ask questions if any, to know your rights and obligations.
Only disclose your Medicare number and Social Security card number to authorized healthcare providers.
Mark the dates of all appointments on a calendar. Check Medicare statements for errors.
Don’t ask for services you don’t need.
Report suspected fraud.
What to Do If You Become a Medicare Fraud Victim
How to report it
Healthcare fraud not only costs our country billions of dollars annually but also puts the health of US citizens at risk. Therefore, US citizens are encouraged to report such cases. If you suspect that some dates or services on Medicare statements are incorrect, please follow these guidelines:
Contact your healthcare provider and try to figure out the inaccuracies in your statement. This way, a billing error may come up, and the provider will set things right.
If you still suspect that fraud is involved, you can report it by contacting the Office of Inspector General by calling 1-800-447-8477 or via its official website.
Provide as many details about the alleged fraud as possible. This includes your name and card number, details about your healthcare provider, date of the healthcare service you have doubts about and its cost. Also describe what acts exactly seem to be fraudulent.
What to do if targeted by the investigators
The common reason why recipients of healthcare benefits are targeted by fraud investigators is that they failed to disclose their full income on the application, and the real amount of their income implies they are not eligible for the benefits. Another reason may be the fact that they receive treatment in an institution that doesn’t correspond to their actual place of residence. Patients are notified that investigation is under way by a letter requesting them to come to an investigation interview.
If you find yourself in such a situation, we recommend you to follow these guidelines:
Do not ignore the letter.
Do not come to the interview and speak to the investigator, you don’t have to. By the time you receive the letter, the authorities have already gathered a lot of information about you. Still, they might be missing some important information or documents, which prevents them from starting a case against you. So any details or documents you disclose can incriminate you gravely.
Ask legal advice from a Medicaid fraud attorney. And you’d rather do it as soon as possible. An experienced lawyer can help you reach an administrative settlement for your case or even dismiss it.
