The Digital Doc: Telehealth Fraud

An official from the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) recently announced the DOJ’s plans to “substantially” add to its current roster of 75 prosecutors specializing in healthcare fraud.

Telehealth, which has seen exponential growth, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, operates in a complex regulatory environment that blends technology with healthcare delivery. This expansion suggests a heightened focus on compliance and regulatory adherence within the telehealth sector. It may lead to increased scrutiny of telehealth practices, particularly in areas such as billing, patient privacy, and the quality of care provided remotely.

In 2022, the DOJ charged 36 defendants for more than $1.2 billion in alleged fraud.

In June 2023, the DOJ announced a large-scale, coordinated healthcare enforcement effort charging 78 individuals in $2.5 billion worth of alleged fraud and abuse.

We need to have more collaboration between clinical leaders and tech leaders to ensure safety, quality, compliance, and equity, as there will be an extremely large lens focused on this realm.

What are the organizations that you have doing to make sure that they are doing everything correctly without cutting corners?