Mother And Daughter Duo In Lake County, FL Charged With Insurance Fraud
A mother/daughter duo are now facing a number of different counts of criminal insurance fraud in Central Florida. According to a report from Click Orlando, Jessica Chechile and Heather Steverson are facing a collective 200+ counts of insurance fraud related to a scheme that they have been running for at least eight months. Here, our Orlando white collar crimes defense attorney discusses the allegations as well as insurance fraud charges more broadly.
Allegations: Mother, Daughter in Lake County Unlawfully Billed Medicaid for Transportation
The duo reportedly used Medicaid beneficiaries as their riders to schedule and make trips from Orlando to Sarasota to Bradenton and then charge Medicaid for those trips. Chechile is facing 79 counts of forgery and 79 counts of uttering a forged document, while Steverson is facing 33 forgery charges and 33 counts of uttering a forged document. Chechile allegedly spent the collected money on gambling. ModivCare, a transportation company, was able to trace the fraudulent activity back to Ms. Chechile and Ms. Steverson. Both are being held on bond amounts in the six figures.
An Overview of Criminal Charges for Medicaid Insurance Fraud
Medicaid insurance is a government-funded program that provides healthcare coverage to low-income individuals and families. As with any system, there are those who attempt to exploit it for personal gain, leading to various criminal charges for Medicaid insurance fraud. Any person facing a criminal charge for fraud related to Medicaid needs an experienced defense lawyer on their side. Here is a list of the some of the most common Medicaid insurance fraud charges;
- False Claims: Submitting false or misleading claims to Medicaid for reimbursement, such as billing for services not provided or inflating the cost of services, can lead to criminal charges.
- Illegal Kickbacks: The offering or accepting of kickbacks, bribes, or other forms of financial incentives in exchange for referrals, prescriptions, or other Medicaid-covered services is illegal and can result in criminal charges.
- Improper Unbundling of Services: This refers to the practice of submitting separate claims for services that should be billed together at a lower cost. Unbundling can lead to criminal charges if it is done intentionally to defraud Medicaid.
- Identity Theft: Using someone else’s identity or Medicaid number to obtain healthcare services or submit fraudulent claims is a criminal offense.
As with other types of insurance fraud charges, Medicaid fraud allegations should always be defended on a case-by-case basis, with careful consideration to the specific facts, circumstances, and evidence. A top white collar defense attorney can help.
Call Our Orlando, FL Insurance Fraud Defense Lawyers Today
At The Baez Law Firm, our Orlando white collar criminal defense lawyer has the professional and legal expertise to take on insurance fraud cases. If you or your loved one was arrested and charged with insurance fraud, we are here to help. Contact us now to set up a fully confidential case review. With an office in Orlando, we defend white collar crimes throughout Central Florida.
Source:
clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/04/17/lake-county-mother-daughter-duo-face-charges-in-2022-insurance-fraud-scheme/
