PREVENTION
Proactive Legal Defense
As a medical professional, you’ve probably said it to patients a thousand times, “Why didn’t you come in sooner?”
Humans are the “hopeful species.” We tend to hope for the best and only seek skilled help when things have gone obviously and seriously wrong. Partly, we ignore our own best interests because we want to focus on patient care and nursing issues, and partly it’s because the legal ramifications of even simple acts seem outrageously complex and harsh.
Take a look at an excerpt from the Code of Alabama Section 22-1-11:
(a) Any person who, with intent to defraud or deceive, makes, or causes to be made or assists in the preparation of any false statement, representation, or omission of a material fact in any claim or application for any payment, regardless of amount, from the Medicaid Agency, knowing the same to be false; or with intent to defraud or deceive, makes, or causes to be made, or assists in the preparation of any false statement, representation, or omission of a material fact in any claim or application for medical benefits from the Medicaid Agency, knowing the same to be false; shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or imprisoned for not less than one nor more than five years, or both.
The scary part is the guilty of a felony and the not less than one nor more than 5 years. Have you ever been tempted to help a patient who needs a service or medical device by shading the facts – with no gain to yourself?
The Alabama Medicaid Agency’s current list of suspended providers runs to 28 pages in a .pdf document. Of those 28 pages 14 are for suspended nurses. This is just a single example of the legal minefield nurses practice in every working day.
If I consult an attorney before I’m charged, doesn’t that make me look guilty?
It does in the eyes of the lay public, but not to the Alabama Board of Nursing or the prosecutor’s office, and these are the agencies that matter. The Board and prosecutors know that you are not a legal professional. They know the wisest thing for anyone involved in a legal matter is to obtain council.
How might this come up? Most commonly, you hear of an investigation in progress, or you receive a subpoena to testify in a case. You may not be the direct target and you may know that you have done nothing overtly criminal. What you may not know (and this is why a good defense attorney is critical) is where the investigation will end up and what charges may be added. It is rarely a real defense to claim you were “just following policy”. Only a licensed attorney (and preferably one focused on nursing defense) will have the experience and legal training to guide you properly.
Our attorneys at Kreps Law Firm, LLC stand ready, willing, and able to help you and defend your Alabama Board of Nursing matter and your criminal charges, if any have been filed. You should not attempt to navigate the administrative hearing process without an attorney. Our initial consultation is confidential and free. Don’t wait! Call us today to discuss your Alabama Board of Nursing matter (866) 348-2889.