The NYC Bureau of Fraud Investigation is responsible for investigating Medicaid fraud. If you receive a letter from investigators in this bureau, it means that they believe you provided false or incomplete information on an application for Medicaid or Family Health Plus benefits. The Medicaid fraud investigators already know a lot about you. They have compared the information on your application with property records, car registration records, business records, and other public databases. They have your credit reports, which reveal how many credit cards you have, your average balances, and other information about your assets, expenses, and income. They may know your bank balances and they may have payroll records from your current or past employers. In most cases, the investigators have already visited your home and place of employment. They may have pictures of your home, your car, and the people who live with you. They may have spoken with your employer and neighbors. The investigators want you to come in for an “interview” at one of their offices, either 151 West Broadway or 250 Church Street. At the interview, two investigators will interrogate you in a small, windowless room. One will ask questions, while the other one will take notes. If you turn over financial records, they will make copies and question you about details in the records. Anything you say can and will be used against you. You have the right to consult with a lawyer before meeting with the investigators. You also have the right to bring a lawyer with you to the interview. In fact, in many cases, you can avoid the interview by having your lawyer meet with the investigators instead. In some cases, where the evidence is not clear, your lawyer may convince the investigators that you did nothing wrong. Or your lawyer may convince the investigators that you were eligible for benefits during at least some of the months or years at issue. In other cases, your best option may be to negotiate a settlement to avoid a lawsuit or criminal charges. Every case is different. You need to consult with an experienced Medicaid fraud lawyer to find out what is likely to happen in your case and how you should respond. In all cases, you want to avoid criminal charges or a public lawsuit that can affect your career, your credit score, and your reputation. Any settlement you negotiate should reduce the claim to the lowest possible amount by eliminating any penalties, fines, or interest. You may be able to do that on your own in some cases, but in most cases an experienced lawyer who negotiates with the investigators all the time will get a better result. To schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced Medicaid fraud lawyer, call John Howley, Esq. at (212) 601-2728.
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