Relaxing Telehealth Regulations Does Not Mean Relaxing Fraud Enforcement

Carlton Fields attorneys Patricia M. Carreiro and Erin J. Hoyle authored an article in Fierce Healthcare highlighting the potential for health care fraud and abuse amidst the recent expansion of telehealth. While telehealth regulations have been loosened during the COVID-19 pandemic, regulators will keep a close eye on potential violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute and False Claims Act, according to the article.

“Reduced cybersecurity requirements for telehealth communications increase the risk of hackers intercepting or stealing the protected health information necessary to submit fraudulent claims or commit healthcare identity theft,” wrote Carreiro, a cybersecurity and privacy attorney, and Hoyle, whose practice focuses on white collar crime and government investigations. “Such practices will not go unchecked, and telehealth providers should establish protocols to keep from being unwittingly pulled into the crosshairs.”

READ: Fierce Healthcare, “Industry Voices – Relaxing telehealth regulations does not mean relaxing fraud enforcement”