Healthcare Fraud Defense
Scott Armstrong defends individuals based on years of first-chair trial experience at the nation’s leader in healthcare fraud cases: DOJ’s Fraud Section. After leading cases at the Fraud Section involving over $600 million in fraudulent healthcare claims, Scott can quickly navigate and defend individuals in a range of healthcare cases.
Scott focuses primarily on defending healthcare executives, owners, physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals in cases involving allegations of healthcare fraud, violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, false statements relating to a healthcare matter, and major fraud against the United States.
Drawing on his background, Scott Armstrong offers strategic counsel and advocacy to guide individuals through a range of allegations of impropriety in the healthcare industry.
First-Chair Experience for Healthcare Defense
Trial-Ready Defense
Scott defends individuals in criminal healthcare cases. Whether an executive, physician, or medical professional, Scott vigorously defends the interests of his clients throughout a criminal investigation and at trial. Scott does so by leveraging his trial experience in healthcare matters, deep understanding of healthcare rules and regulations, and skill with complex “claims data.” Scott ensures that every aspect of a client’s defense is meticulously managed to guard against pitfalls that arise in complex healthcare fraud cases.
Given his years at a Fraud Section, Scott has the experience to defend healthcare cases in every major market where a DOJ Strike Force has operated, including Miami, Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Nashville, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
Compliance Defense
In addition to defending criminal healthcare fraud cases, Scott defends individuals facing allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse brought by regulators, including medical boards and insurance companies. Scott’s deep experience in healthcare-fraud cases allows him to defend medical professionals in audits and investigations into overutilization, “up coding,” and lack of medical necessity.
By diving into the data, the applicable rules, and patient files, Scott provides a meticulous defense to guide clients through various enforcement actions. His thorough approach ensures that his clients are protected at every step of a case.
Data-Driven Defense
Based on his years of experience building and prosecuting cases involving over $600 million in false and fraudulent healthcare claims, Scott has critical first-hand experience with the ins and outs of healthcare case. With the data “know how” and first-chair trial experience, Scott stands ready to defend individuals on all fronts against the intricacies of any healthcare matter.
Scott’s data-driven defense ensures that clients receive the highest level of advocacy in legal battles involving complex medical and billing issues.
Defense of Individuals in Controlled-Substances Cases
As the former Director of the Fraud Section’s Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (“ARPO”) Strike Force, Scott defends executives, physicians, and medical professionals in a range of charges involving violations of the Controlled Substances Act, including the diversion of opioids and other controlled substances.
Scott was at the forefront of controlled-substances cases at the Department of Justice. His cases as a federal prosecutor collectively involved the diversion of over 15 million opioid pills. For his groundbreaking work with data analytics and trial excellence in controlled-substances cases, Scott was awarded the Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service and the Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service.
Scott now brings his first-chair trial experience in controlled-substances cases to defend individuals around the country facing allegations of controlled-substances diversion.
Trial Tested in Healthcare Cases: Representative DOJ Experience
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Served as lead trial counsel against a physician and two clinic owners, who were convicted after a week-long trial for a $26 million scheme involving Medicare claims for medical services that were medically unnecessary and induced by kickbacks.
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Served as lead trial counsel in the Fraud Section’s first-ever use of data analytics to investigate, prosecute, and convict after a two-week trial a physician and clinic owner for conspiring to dispense over 2 million opioid pills unlawfully.
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Served as lead trial counsel against a Director of Nursing of a health clinic, convicted after a week-long trial for a $20 million scheme involving Medicare claims for medical services that were medically unnecessary and induced by kickbacks.
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Served as co-lead trial counsel against a physician convicted following a week-long trial for unlawfully prescribing medical injections and other medical services in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute.
