Cerritos Medicare/Medi-Cal Fraud Defense Lawyer
Whether you’re a doctor, nurse, clinic owner, billing specialist, pharmacist, durable medical equipment (DME) provider, or healthcare employee, being accused of Medicare or Medi-Cal fraud can create serious, immediate problems. Even before any court date, accusations alone can put your career and professional reputation at risk. In a community like Cerritos, where healthcare operations often overlap with nearby medical corridors across Los Angeles and Orange County, compliance rules can be dense and a billing error, documentation problem, or misunderstanding can quickly be treated as criminal conduct.
The good news is you don’t have to face these allegations alone. With the right defense strategy, you can protect your rights, understand what investigators are looking for, and mount a defense that addresses the facts not assumptions.
If you’ve been arrested, contacted by investigators, served with a subpoena, or charged with Medicare or Medi-Cal fraud, a Cerritos Medicare/Medi-Cal fraud defense lawyer at The Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates is ready to help. With over two decades of experience representing clients throughout Los Angeles County, we understand how these cases are investigated and prosecuted. Learn more about our law firm.
Our office is located a short drive from Cerritos at 100 Oceangate, Suite 525, Long Beach, CA 90802. If you’re coming from Cerritos near Los Cerritos Center, Cerritos Towne Center, or the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, we’re easy to reach via main corridors like South Street, Bloomfield Avenue, Carmenita Road, and nearby freeway connectors. We’re just minutes from downtown Long Beach, near W. Ocean Blvd and Queens Way. Call 562-216-2944 or submit a contact form to discuss your case in greater detail.
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What Is Medicare/Medi-Cal Fraud?
Medicare and Medi-Cal are government-funded healthcare programs. Medicare is a federal program that primarily serves individuals who are elderly or disabled. Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program, providing healthcare coverage for eligible low-income individuals and families.
Fraud allegations generally arise when the government claims someone intentionally falsified information or misrepresented services to obtain payments they weren’t entitled to. These cases are often built through billing audits, claims reviews, medical record comparisons, interviews, and electronic data analysis.
Common allegations include:
- Billing for services not provided: Submitting claims for procedures, visits, or treatments that allegedly never occurred.
- Overbilling: Charging for higher quantities or longer durations of services than provided.
- Upcoding: Using billing codes that reflect more expensive services than what was actually performed.
- Kickbacks: Offering or receiving something of value in exchange for patient referrals or steering services.
- Falsifying patient records: Altering documentation to justify billing.
- Unbundling: Separating services that should be billed together to increase reimbursement.
Fraud allegations can involve doctors and hospitals, but also clinics, pharmacies, home health providers, DME companies, labs, and administrative staff. Even if you did not intend to commit wrongdoing, the government may still pursue charges if they believe the billing pattern suggests intent.
Why Are Medicare/Medi-Cal Fraud Charges Taken So Seriously?
Medicare and Medi-Cal fraud investigations are often pursued aggressively because these programs involve public funds. Federal and state agencies spend enormous resources investigating suspected fraud, and prosecutors often argue that fraud harms taxpayers and vulnerable patients who depend on the healthcare system.
If you’re charged, the consequences can include:
- Misdemeanor or felony charges
- Jail or prison time
- Large fines and restitution (repayment of alleged improper payments)
- Probation and strict compliance conditions
- Professional license consequences (including suspension or revocation)
- Exclusion from government programs
- Reputation and career damage that can last long after the case ends
For medical professionals and healthcare business owners, these cases may also trigger parallel proceedings such as licensing board actions or administrative audits making experienced legal guidance critical.
Where Medicare/Medi-Cal Fraud Investigations Often Begin Around Cerritos
Many healthcare fraud cases begin quietly. Sometimes a provider receives a notice of audit, a request for records, or a “routine” inquiry that later becomes a criminal investigation. Cerritos is a high-traffic community with significant commercial activity near Los Cerritos Center, and many healthcare operations and patient populations overlap with nearby hubs throughout Southeast Los Angeles County.
If you operate or work in the Cerritos area, you may be contacted about claims tied to services billed from offices along South Street, Artesia Boulevard, or corridors near Bloomfield Avenue and Carmenita Road. Investigations frequently expand quickly especially when billing data is reviewed over long time periods.
If you’re contacted by investigators, asked for interviews, or served with paperwork, it’s wise to speak to counsel before responding. A well-intentioned explanation can be misunderstood, and early statements often shape the trajectory of the case.
Why You Need a Cerritos Medicare/Medi-Cal Fraud Defense Lawyer
Healthcare fraud cases are complex because they involve regulations, billing codes, documentation standards, and intent-based allegations. An experienced Cerritos Medicare/Medi-Cal fraud defense lawyer can help by reviewing what the government claims happened and whether the evidence actually supports it.
Your defense may focus on issues such as:
Faulty Billing Systems or Administrative Errors
Many cases stem from billing software issues, template errors, coding mistakes, staffing turnover, or unclear internal processes. A discrepancy may not equal fraud.
Lack of Criminal Intent
Fraud is not the same as negligence. If you did not knowingly submit false claims or did not understand that a billing practice was improper, intent may be a key defense issue.
Documentation Problems vs. Fraud
Missing documentation or imperfect charting is not automatically criminal fraud. The defense may show that services were provided and records simply did not match the government’s expectations.
Third-Party Conduct or Pressure
Some providers are blamed for conduct driven by third-party billing companies, office managers, or business partners. Others may be pressured into questionable practices. Identifying responsibility and context matters.
A thorough defense includes reviewing billing patterns, patient files, coding practices, and investigator methods to find weaknesses and build a clear narrative.
Contact Our Cerritos Medicare/Medi-Cal Fraud Defense Lawyer
If you’ve been accused of Medicare or Medi-Cal fraud, don’t wait. Early action can help preserve records, protect your rights, and position your case for a stronger outcome. At The Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates, we have extensive experience defending clients against serious fraud and white-collar allegations across Los Angeles County.
Ready to speak with a lawyer? Contact a Cerritos Medicare/Medi-Cal fraud defense lawyer today. Call 562-216-2944 or fill out our contact form. We’re here to help.
