JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Special Committee on Duval DOGE will hold a meeting Tuesday to review additional information about the city’s telehealth contract amid concerns of potential misuse of taxpayer funds, conflicts of interest and allegations of fraud.
The committee, chaired by City Councilmember Ron Salem, said in a news release that it will dive deeper into the city’s contracts with Telescope Health, which runs the city’s telehealth services, Healthlink JAX.
Press play above to watch the meeting live
Last week, City Councilmember Rory Diamond called for an investigation into Telescope Health after he said he had received many calls and messages from government insiders and others alleging fraud and conflicts of interest involving the telehealth contracts.
“I just want to get to the bottom of it and put it out in the sunshine so that the people of Jacksonville know one way or the other if their contracts are fair,” Diamond said on Nov. 10.
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The allegations prompted an emergency meeting two days later.
Just hours before that meeting, Telescope Health sent a statement responding to what it called “false allegations” about Healthlink JAX, saying in part that it has not “engaged in fraud, and any allegation to the contrary is entirely false and without merit.”
Diamond also brought up claims of Medicare and Medicaid fraud, specifically about patients being sent unnecessarily to emergency rooms, costing the city money.
“If that’s happening, that’s a huge problem,” Diamond said. “I can’t stand corruption. I’m really angry about it, so I just want to get to the bottom of it, get it all out in the sunshine, let’s ask the questions, let’s get the answers.”
But Telescope Health said “it cannot and has not billed Medicare, Medicaid or other payors for Healthlink JAX patients” because the program involves facilitating health care access to uninsured patients.
Read Telescope Health’s full statement below:
“At no time has Telescope Health engaged in fraud, and any allegation to the contrary is entirely false and without merit. To be unequivocally clear, Telescope Health’s contract for the Healthlink JAX program involves facilitating access to healthcare to uninsured patients. Therefore, Telescope Health cannot and has not billed Medicare, Medicaid or other payors for Healthlink JAX patients. Furthermore, no City of Jacksonville official has a financial stake in Telescope Health.
These erroneous accusations distract from Healthlink JAX’s mission to make care accessible to all Duval County residents. Telescope Health has faithfully managed more than 6,800 calls with Healthlink JAX patients and redirected more than $11.1 million in healthcare system costs since the service began in October 2024. We will continue to serve the Jacksonville community with the utmost integrity.”
Dr. Matthew Thompson, CEO and Co-Founder, Telescope Health
Tuesday’s Duval DOGE meeting is set to start at 11 a.m.
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