When you’re facing an investigation into or charges of healthcare fraud headed up by the Office of Inspector General, to say that you can feel overwhelmed is an understatement. Along with the stigma that comes along with charges like these, and the court of popular opinion that you’ll have to contend with as a result, there’s also the fact that you could be looking at years or even decades of prison should you be successfully convicted. It goes without saying that anyone facing prospects like these is going to want to get someone in their corner who can effectively defend their case, ideally getting charges reduced or even dropped altogether before you’d ever need to go to court. But who should you turn to for help?
Not all legal firms are equal, and not every defense attorney or firm will have the experience, resources, and skill necessary to ensure the best possible outcome for you. You need a place that will fight hard for you and get you the results that you need and deserve. You need the Norman Spencer Law Group.
Contents
- What can the Office of Inspector General do?
- What should I do if I end up under investigation by the OIG?
- Who can I trust?
- The Norman Spencer Law Group can help you out.
What Can the Office of Inspector General Do?
As you might imagine, the Office of Inspector General has a very narrow and specific purview. While their methods might be extensive, their jurisdiction is quite specific. The Office of Inspector General, or OIG, gets involved in situations such as Medicare or Medicaid-related cases, routine audits of healthcare records, offenses related to healthcare insurance, and grant or contract fraud, especially as it relates to the healthcare system.
It’s important to note that the penalties here can be both civil and criminal in nature, and an investigation can shift at any time based on the investigator involved and any evidence that might come up in the course of said investigation. For instance, an investigation can start out as a civil one and then become criminal later, with the eventual penalties being civil sanctions, criminal penalties, or even both, all depending on the situation.
What to Do When Under Investigation by the OIG?
There are a few things that you should keep in mind should you find yourself under investigation by the OIG. While these are more general guidelines that could apply to a wide variety of charges or legal issues you might find yourself in, they still bear repeating.
To start with, you should keep the conversation with the investigator to a minimum. One of the biggest mistakes you could make is to assume that you have nothing to hide and that you should talk openly with investigators. The reality is that the scope of the investigation will almost always be wider than you think it’ll be, and a savvy investigator will be able to trip you up and get you to incriminate yourself. While you have an affirmative duty to cooperate with the investigator, you should only do this while under the advisement of a competent defense attorney.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you should under no circumstances represent yourself in court or assume that you can handle an OIG investigation on your own. An OIG investigator’s sole job is to find violations and pursue prosecutions. They will use everything at their disposal to do just that. They are not your friends, your defense attorneys are.
The last thing you should keep in mind is that not all legal firms are identical. While there are plenty of firms out there, not all of them will have the proper level of experience and skill that you need to win your case. Considering that the right defense attorney can literally be the difference between you spending the rest of your life in prison and having all charges against you dropped entirely, this is a very important decision for you to make.
Who to Trust with Office of Inspector General Issues
Trying to decide on the right legal firm can be overwhelming, to say the least. There are plenty of firms out there with slick marketing campaigns and funny catchphrases, but not all of them will have the know-how to actually win in court. A catchy jingle means very little if you end up in federal prison, so you need to be sure that the people you’ve chosen to represent you can actually cut it.
With that said, what are some of the things that you should be on the lookout for? Well, you’ll want a firm that has years of experience. A firm that has handled all types of cases, both big and small, simple and complex. A firm that has represented people from all walks of life, at both the state and the federal level.
The Norman Spencer Law Group Can Help
With a combined 70+ years of experience representing cases (many of which look just like yours), the Norman Spencer Law Group is the right firm for anyone who’s facing down an investigation from the Office of Inspector General.
Our top priority is our clients, and that begins with our focus on 1:1 service. We have a host of accessibility options, starting with remote legal consultations that we are able to host through Zoom, Skype, and Google Duo. Then, if you need someone to come to you, we can get someone from our team to do just that, no matter where you might be in the country. So if you’re facing any sort of legal trouble, don’t leave your fate up to chance. Get in touch with us today, and someone from our team will get back to you as soon as possible so we can get started on getting you the help that you need and deserve.