JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville’s telehealth contractor responded on Wednesday to fraud allegations regarding its management of the city’s telehealth program, which provides health care access for Duval County residents.
Telescope Health sent a statement to address what it called “false allegations” about its telehealth program, Healthlink JAX, saying in part that it has not “engaged in fraud, and any allegation to the contrary is entirely false and without merit.”
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The company’s response comes the same day the Special Committee on Duval DOGE emergency is expected to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the telehealth program. The meeting was prompted after City Councilman Diamond raised concerns about potential misuse of taxpayer funds, conflicts of interest, and allegations of fraud related to the contracts with the telehealth company.
Diamond told News4JAX that he has received numerous 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.
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He explained the allegations include government officials who may own entities receiving government money, diverting contracts to themselves.
There are also claims of Medicare and Medicaid fraud, with 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
Diamond acknowledged that the telehealth program has handled thousands of calls and potentially saved millions by preventing unnecessary ER visits. However, he pointed out that the previous provider offered the service for free, while the city is now spending millions.
“So I think the people of Jacksonville should know whether or not we’re paying millions of dollars for a service that was otherwise free,” he said.
Diamond also noted that the city’s Office of Inspector General had recently reviewed the telehealth contract and gave Telescope Health a high score of 92.6 percent in their evaluation.
He clarified that his concerns are specifically about Telescope Health’s contract and spending.
“If we’re paying a million and a half dollars or two million dollars to save one million, that doesn’t make sense. If we were getting this for free and now we’re paying two million, that doesn’t make sense to me either,” he said.
Diamond also emphasized that his investigation is not politically motivated.
“I was very critical of the last mayor. I did the JEA investigation. I believe in just clean government, so I want to get to the bottom of this one,” he said.
He compared the situation to the JEA scandal, saying the volume of calls and concerns he has received indicates a serious issue.
The mayor’s office responded on Monday to the upcoming emergency meeting called by the city’s governing body, DOGE, with a statement emphasizing the competitive and transparent process behind awarding the contract to Telescope Health.
Mayor Deegan’s focus on making healthcare more affordable and accessible has been a priority since day one. We have saved families thousands and the overall healthcare system millions by helping people stay out of the emergency room for non-emergency situations.
It’s important to note that the virtual safety-net telehealth program now known as Healthlink Jax was competitively bid through an open and transparent RFP process, which resulted in Telescope Health being awarded the contract over two other proposals.
Spokesperson for Mayor Donna Deegan's office
Councilman Matt Carlucci issued the following statement regarding the upcoming meeting to address the allegations.
Council Member Rory Diamond has requested a DOGE Committee meeting, alleging “serious misuse of taxpayer funds” and “potential illegal conduct” in the City’s telehealth contracts. Those are very serious claims. Yet when pressed in a recent Channel 4 interview to name specific wrongdoing, no clear facts were provided, and the accusations were denied as political even though they were aimed squarely at the Mayor’s program.
If any council member has credible evidence of fraud or illegal conduct, it should go immediately to the Inspector General, State Attorney, internal auditors, or the Office of General Counsel. That is where real oversight happens.
Instead, the DOGE Committee has become a political stage that duplicates work our standing committees are already empowered to do. For the sake of public trust and basic good governance, I believe it is time to dissolve the DOGE Committee and return all oversight to our regular committees and established watchdogs. Jacksonville deserves serious oversight, not political theater.
Matt Carlucci, At-Large Council Member Group 4 for the Jacksonville City Council
The city also confirmed that the Office of Inspector General has reviewed the telehealth contract and found that the procurement process followed all required protocols.
The emergency meeting is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.