DOJ’s Annual Health Care Fraud Takedown Uncovered Billions in Telehealth Fraud: Providers Should Ensure Compliance

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced numerous charges against health care providers for approximately $4.5 billion in allegedly false claims involving telehealth and telemedicine. The charges come as part of the DOJ’s 2020 National Health Care Fraud and Opioid takedown. Many of the charges stem from telehealth executives allegedly paying healthcare providers to order unnecessary durable medical equipment, medications, and diagnostic tests without patient interaction or permission. The executives received kickbacks after Medicare or Medicaid were billed for these items.

This article was submitted by Cory Kopitzke, Quarles & Brady LLP. If you would like to submit content or write an article for the Health Care & Life Sciences Section, please email Kara Sikorski at ksikorski@indybar.org.