{"id":776732,"date":"2026-05-06T07:11:26","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T07:11:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/776732\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T07:11:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T07:11:26","slug":"value-of-the-city-of-jacksonvilles-telehealth-program-questioned-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/776732\/","title":{"rendered":"Value of the City of Jacksonville’s telehealth program questioned"},"content":{"rendered":"

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 Action News Jax\u2019s Ben Becker has learned that the Duval DOGE<\/a> Committee is expected to release a 21-page report on Tuesday that clears the city\u2019s telehealth provider of fraud allegations<\/a> after months of facing accusations by some city council members, but raises concerns about cost and effectiveness.<\/p>\n

According to a sub-committee draft obtained by Becker ahead of the DOGE meeting, there was no evidence that Telescope Health, which operates the HealthLink Jax program for uninsured residents, committed Medicare or Medicaid fraud or improperly steered patients to specific hospitals.<\/p>\n

However, the report does conclude that the company exaggerated the financial benefits of its services and failed to demonstrate a meaningful return on taxpayer investment.<\/p>\n

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

$2 Million Cost, \u2018No tangible financial benefit\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n

The committee found that the city\u2019s contract with Telescope Health, costing more than $2 million annually, does not provide a tangible financial benefit to taxpayers. The findings suggest similar services could be delivered at no cost through alternative providers such as RightSite Health. <\/p>\n

It already operates within Jacksonville through a partnership with JFRD, which connects non-emergency calls that come in through the city\u2019s 911 service to ambulatory, in-network care. <\/p>\n

Unlike Telescope, RightSite\u2019s services are currently offered to the city at no charge. Telescope Health allows patients to directly access care through a hotline, primarily serving uninsured residents<\/p>\n

City council hired former general counsel Jason Gabriel<\/a> to produce the report, allowing him to bill the city up to $40,000<\/a>.<\/p>\n

No improper hospital steering found<\/b><\/p>\n

The report also addressed concerns about potential conflicts of interest involving hospital referrals. While Baptist Health System holds a minority ownership stake in Telescope Health, the committee found no evidence that patients were improperly directed to emergency rooms affiliated with that system. <\/p>\n

Data reviewed showed that while some patients advised to seek emergency care did go to Baptist hospitals, the pattern did not indicate inappropriate steering.<\/p>\n

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\"\"DOGE report on City Telehealth Report finds no fraud, but questions the value of Jacksonville’s telehealth program. \"\"DOGE report on City Telehealth Report finds no fraud, but questions the value of Jacksonville’s telehealth program. \"\"DOGE report on City Telehealth Report finds no fraud, but questions the value of Jacksonville’s telehealth program. Councilman defends investigation<\/b><\/p>\n

Rory Diamond<\/a>, who first raised concerns about the telehealth contract, defended the probe.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo allegations were made that were defamatory. Not in the slightest,\u201d Diamond said. \u201cWe wanted to investigate credible concerns, and that\u2019s exactly what government is supposed to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added that the findings confirm taxpayer money was not being used effectively.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re misspending $2 million of taxpayer funds. We found out we\u2019re misspending it\u2026 and now we can save it going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recommendations moving forward<\/b><\/p>\n

The committee is expected to propose several next steps, including:<\/p>\n