Chiropractor Representation
Frances Cullen, PC helps to protect your license, your livelihood, your career, and your reputation if you are investigated or accused of wrongdoing by the Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Our firm also has extensive experience in the representation of Chiropractors facing Medicaid (Department of Community Health–DCH) recoupment and fraud actions.
Under O.C.G.A § 43-9-12, the Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners (the Georgia Chiropractic Board) has the authority to refuse to grant a license or sanction a licensee for a wide range of acts of unprofessional conduct, including but not limited to:
- Sexual Misconduct by a Chiropractor
- Abuse of Alcohol and/or Prescription Drugs
- Incompetent and/or Negligent Practice as a Chiropractor
- Conviction of a Crime Substantially Related to Practice as a Chiropractor
- Conviction of a Felony Crime
- Falsifying patient records
- Inappropriate billing
- False, deceptive or misleading advertising by a Chiropractor
The Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners (the Georgia Chiropractic Board) generally does not address minor billing disputes, issues related to general business policies and practices, and personality conflicts, but a complaint about these issues can prompt an investigation by The Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners (the Georgia Chiropractic Board) and focus attention on you or your practice, and sometimes begin an inquiry into other related matters.
Although billing disputes are not within the purview of The Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners (the Georgia Chiropractic Board), the Board could take issue with a chiropractor if there is a complaint by the Department of Community Health/Medicaid or Medicare, or third party insurance companies regarding billing practices.
All cases are opened upon the filing of a complaint. Complaints can be filed by any member of the general public: a patient, a former patient, a member of a patient’s family, an employee or former employee, and, often, complaints are filed by a subsequent therapist. If the complaint involves a serious violation (for example, allegation of sexual misconduct, a boundary violation, false claims for service or gross negligence), the case may immediately assigned to an investigator employed by The Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners (the Georgia Chiropractic Board).
If you are contacted during the investigative process or the Georgia Chiropractic Board sends you a proposed Consent Order, we highly advise you not to attend any “conference,” ”meeting” or “interview” without experienced and qualified legal representation. While a licensee might be willing to discuss the details of the complaint and wish to provide “their side of the story”, this meeting is not an opportunity to present your version of the facts and, without legal counsel as your witness to the interview, your statements can be interpreted differently than you intended and later used against you in a Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners (the Georgia Chiropractic Board) action. It is also important to retain legal counsel if the Georgia Chiropractic Board sends you a proposed Consent Order
The Board does not have authority over individuals licensed by other boards (for example, physicians). These complaints are usually referred to the board that has jurisdiction over the individual.
Any attorney can represent a licensed professional, but you should protect your license and career by selecting an attorney who is highly experienced in Georgia professional license defense. Don’t risk your license and your livelihood, and settle for any lawyer when you can obtain an attorney experienced in defending case before The Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners (the Georgia Chiropractic Board) issues.
Medicare, Medicaid, Insurance Recoupment and Fraud
As healthcare costs continue to rise, chiropractors and other health care providers are facing a dramatic increase in government regulation and scrutiny, including an increase in the number and scope of investigations and prosecutions for health care fraud, as well as a surge in Medicare and Medicaid audits. Audits performed by the Department of Audits and Accounts (DOAA) almost always lead to a recoupment action and could, potentially, prompt a criminal investigation or action for healthcare fraud.
Private insurance carriers are also aggressively reviewing claims to issue recoupment notices and pursuing health care fraud cases against medical providers.
Criminal Defense
Chiropractors are at risk for potentially being charged with a criminal act. Frances Cullen, PC helps to protect your license, your livelihood, your career, and your reputation if you are arrested or charged with a crime. As a professional with a license to protect, there is an advantage in hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney who is experienced in criminal defense but who also fully knows the potential consequences and impact of a conviction on a professional’s career.
A plea to any crime can impact your professional license, with the potential for disciplinary action, suspension or revocation. Certain crimes require the imposition of a three-month license suspension.
Frances Cullen, PC has extensive experience in the representation of professionals for a wide range of Federal and State criminal charges, including Medicare and Medicaid fraud, violation of § O.C.G.A. 16-13-30 et seq. (Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act), as well as allegations of theft and tax evasion.
Representative Cases
Frances Cullen, PC successfully represented a Chiropractor who was convicted of Healthcare Fraud and was imprisoned for a period of time, and later sought reinstatement of his license. He is now licensed in the State of Georgia.
In another case, Frances Cullen, PC represented a Chiropractor in Federal Court who had engaged in a scheme staging false accidents and using “runners” to negotiate a lower sentence than requested by prosecutors.
Contact Frances Cullen, PC
As an experienced healthcare law firm, Frances Cullen, PC is well qualified to provide representation for these legal matters. Our firm provides chiropractors and other healthcare professionals with sound advice and is a forceful advocate when a professional is faced with potential criminal action, civil claims or administrative action by a patient, Medicare, Medicaid (the Department of Community Health–DCH), or other insurance companies.
If you are a physician or other healthcare provider facing legal action, please contact Frances Cullen, PC at your earliest opportunity.
Don’t risk your license and your livelihood, and settle for any lawyer when you can call Frances Cullen, PC to retain an attorney experienced in this specialized area.
Proviso: Due to the professional stature of my clients and the sensitive nature of the issues that are the subject of these matters, client names are not provided for these cases.
