Being accused of a criminal act is stressful enough. When you hold a medical license, you also have to defend that license before the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
If you are arrested, your first instinct may be to keep the news quiet. However, under IDFPR rules, you are required to notify the board if you face certain criminal charges.
[Related: Actions To Avoid if Your Professional License Is Under Investigation]
When Must an Illinois Physician Self-Report a Felony Arrest?
Under IDFPR rules, a physician must self-report any felony arrest. One of the most common felony charges facing medical professionals is healthcare fraud. Federal prosecutors typically bring these charges, and charges usually involve fraud against Medicare or Medicaid.
The stakes are serious. A conviction can mean prison time, significant fines, loss of your medical license and loss of provider status, jeopardizing your entire professional future.
These federal cases illustrate the scope of the problem:
- An Edinburg, Texas, physician was charged with 15 counts of healthcare fraud totaling more than $3.5 million.
- A doctor in Charlotte, North Carolina, was indicted for allegedly participating in an $11 million medical equipment scheme.
- A Canton, Massachusetts, physician was charged with 11 counts of healthcare fraud, allegedly billing federal health insurance programs over a 3-year period.
- A physician in New York, New York, was charged in an alleged $10 million healthcare fraud scheme involving false and fraudulent claims.
Federal healthcare fraud convictions carry mandatory exclusion from Medicare and Medicaid programs. That means a conviction doesn’t just threaten your license; it can permanently end your ability to bill federal health programs.
[Related: Overprescribing Opioids and Your Illinois Medical License]
What Misdemeanors Must Illinois Physicians Self-Report?
Physicians must also self-report arrests and convictions for certain misdemeanor offenses, specifically those that fall under the legal category of crimes of moral turpitude.
Illinois law does not define this term precisely, which makes it particularly important to consult an attorney if you are unsure whether your charge qualifies.
Generally, a crime of moral turpitude is one that offends society’s moral standards. Common examples include the following:
- Drunk driving
- Drug possession
- Theft
- Assault
- Child abuse
- Domestic violence
- Sexual offenses
Crimes considered especially vile or heinous fall under this category even when charged as misdemeanors.
[Related: Does an Illinois Physician Have to Submit to Questioning by an IDFPR Investigator?]
Contact Williams & Nickl for Illinois Medical License Defense
If you are under investigation or have already been charged, do not delay.
The sooner Williams & Nickl can begin working on your case, the better your chances of a positive outcome.
Contact us online or call 312-335-9470 for a free, confidential 1-hour consultation.
Browse our case results and testimonials to discover how we’ve helped Illinois physicians defend their licenses before the IDFPR.