A small proportion of providers that billed for telehealth — 1,714 out of 742,000 — posed a high risk of fraud or abuse to Medicare in COVID-19’s first year, according to a new report from the HHS Office of Inspector General.
Telehealth lobbies including the American Telemedicine Association said the report proves measures enacted to safeguard Medicare against fraud, waste and abuse work well, Healthcare Dive reports.
It comes as lawmakers and regulators continue to puzzle over how many pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities should continue after the public health emergency ends. The potential for rampant fraud has been a concern aired by some members of Congress considering permanently expanding access.
