On July 20, 2022, the Office of Inspector General issued a Special Fraud Alert cautioning healthcare practitioners about entering into certain types of arrangements with telemedicine companies. The alert sets forth 7 characteristics of arrangements which may be suspect and/or present a heightened risk of fraud and abuse. The general information in this Special Fraud Alert and, in particular, the 7 characteristics listed, are worth a review by any practitioner engaging in telehealth efforts with a third-party.
These fraud schemes vary in design and operation, and they have involved a wide range of different individuals and types of entities, including international and domestic telemarketing call centers, staffing companies, Practitioners, marketers, brokers, and others.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.