A Florida telemedicine company owner received a 20-year prison sentence for orchestrating a $46.2 million Medicare fraud scheme.
Christopher Harwood, 44, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, owned and operated TelevisitMD, a telemedicine company involved in fraudulent Medicare billing. The scheme operated for more than six years and involved unnecessary medical equipment, genetic testing, and fraudulent physician orders. In addition to his prison sentence, the court ordered Harwood to pay $17,942,402 in restitution to Medicare. The court also ordered him to forfeit $10,431,463 in proceeds from the fraudulent operation.
How the Medicare Fraud Scheme Worked
Harwood and his co-conspirators used aggressive telemarketing campaigns to target Medicare beneficiaries. Telemarketers persuaded patients to accept orthopedic braces and genetic tests they did not medically need. Harwood paid physicians to approve orders for these products and services without conducting legitimate medical evaluations.
Many physicians signed orders without establishing meaningful relationships with patients or following Medicare’s telemedicine requirements. Harwood then sold these signed orders to durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers, laboratories, and marketers participating in the scheme.
He also owned several Florida-based DME companies that submitted fraudulent Medicare claims for unnecessary orthopedic braces. In many cases, patients neither wanted nor needed the medical equipment billed to Medicare.
Millions in Fraudulent Medicare Claims
Investigators determined that Harwood’s operation generated $46.2 million in false and fraudulent Medicare claims. Medicare paid approximately $17.9 million on those claims. Harwood personally collected more than $10.4 million in profits from the fraudulent activities.
In March 2026, Harwood pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and wire fraud. His conviction highlights the serious consequences of exploiting federal healthcare programs for financial gain.
Federal Agencies Investigated the Fraud
The FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) investigated the case. The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Section handled the prosecution. Federal authorities continue targeting fraudulent billing practices, unnecessary medical services, and illegal financial arrangements involving healthcare providers.
Federal Healthcare Fraud Enforcement Continues
The Department of Justice established its Fraud Division on April 7 to strengthen federal fraud investigations and prosecutions. The division supports broader federal efforts to identify fraud, waste, and abuse within government benefit programs. The Department of Justice also operates nine healthcare fraud strike forces across federal judicial districts.
Since 2007, these strike forces have charged more than 6,200 defendants. Those defendants collectively billed federal healthcare programs and private insurers more than $45 billion. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) also works with HHS-OIG to identify fraudulent activities and hold providers accountable.
What Healthcare Providers Can Learn From This Case
This case demonstrates the importance of proper medical documentation, legitimate patient evaluations, and accurate Medicare billing. Healthcare providers must establish medical necessity before ordering tests, equipment, or other services.
Physicians should never approve medical orders without completing the evaluations required by applicable Medicare rules. Medical practices should also monitor relationships with telemedicine companies, laboratories, marketers, and medical equipment suppliers.
Strong compliance programs help identify suspicious billing practices, prevent fraud, and protect the integrity of patient care.
Healthcare organizations should regularly review billing procedures, physician documentation, and vendor relationships to identify potential compliance risks.
Fraud prevention requires more than written policies. It requires ongoing oversight, employee education, and accountability.
At Aris Medical Solutions, our HIPAA Keeper™ cloud-based platform makes HIPAA compliance simple. It guides your organization through every requirement with a clear, step-by-step process. From risk analyses, risk management, policies to employee training and required documentation, you’ll have everything needed to remain compliant, protected, and audit-ready. Best of all, your HIPAA Compliance Officer is never on their own. Every client has access to a Certified HIPAA Security Analyst who provides expert guidance, answers questions, and helps ensure your compliance program is implemented correctly.
Schedule your HIPAA compliance review today and protect your organization from the next enforcement headline.
Your Trusted Partner for HIPAA Compliance since 2009
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program
