An Illinois man was sentenced for Medicare healthcare fraud on Sept. 16. The 42-year-old nurse was charged for diverting hydrocodone pills that were meant for a resident at a healthcare center where he was working. The incident occurred in 2018.
25 pills
According to reports, the accused man took possession of 25 hydrocodone pills that were supposed to be dispensed to a resident at Progress Port. Progress Port is a healthcare facility for intellectually disabled adults in Williamson County.
The accused man reportedly took the pills for his own personal use while claiming that he had dispensed them to the patient. He is also accused of replacing three of the hydrocodone pills with Tylenol. The diversion of pills occurred between Aug. 20, 2018 and Oct. 30, 2018.
Four years probation
The court sentenced the accused man to four years of probation for diverting the pills and defrauding Medicare. The man was also ordered to pay a fine of $500 and a special assessment fee of $200. Healthcare fraud is considered a white-collar crime because it is nonviolent and typically involves professionals in the healthcare system.
Defense against health care fraud
If you are suspected of health care fraud, chances are the investigation has been ongoing for some time. White-collar crimes typically involve lengthy investigations, and you may become aware of potential charges before you are indicted.
While you are being investigated, you may be able to begin working on a defense ahead of time. By doing your own counter-investigation and collecting evidence, you may be better prepared for the potential charges.