When a health care company’s audit determined there were some discrepancies between the billable hours worked and the services actually performed for a particular patient, this patient’s home healthcare worker was ultimately charged with Medicaid fraud. While the woman claimed that she entered her time exactly as her employer instructed, she faced a serious felony charge in federal court and possible incarceration. The woman was obviously very scared and unsure of where to turn for help but in her time of distress, she came to the Roanoke criminal defense attorneys at Copenhaver, Ellet & Derrico.
Once retained, attorney Michelle Derrico stood with her client when her employer would not and began negotiating on her behalf with the prosecution. After these discussions, it was clear that the government wanted to pursue an active prison term for this client; however, attorney Derrico was undeterred. Through her passionate advocacy, Derrico facilitated an agreement with the presiding judge that spared the woman from this unnecessarily bleak outcome. In the end, the woman was relieved to avoid spending any time in prison and would be permitted to move on with her life with minimal impact.
The outcome of an individual case depends on a variety of factors unique to that case. Case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any similar or future case.