Owner of Telemedicine and DME Companies Pleads Guilty for Role in $46.2 Million Fraud Scheme

Posted April 8, 2026

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team

On March 27, Christopher Harwood, the owner of telemedicine company TelevisitMD and a number of durable medical equipment (DME) supply companies, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and wire fraud for his role in a $46.2 million scheme.[1]

Harwood’s Businesses

Harwood was the owner and operator of TelevisitMD, a telemedicine company.[2] Telemedicine or telehealth involves the provision of medical or health services to patients using audio or video telecommunications technology, such as through computers or telephones.[3] In addition to TelevisitMD, Harwood also owned and operated a number of other companies that supplied DME.[4] DME is medical equipment like medically necessary walkers, crutches, braces, and wheelchairs.[5] Over the years, Harwood’s businesses billed Medicare millions of dollars.[6]

What Was the Fraud at Issue?

According to the DOJ’s press release announcing the guilty plea, “Harwood and his co-conspirators targeted Medicare patients through aggressive telemarketing campaigns, inducing them to accept orthotic braces and genetic tests that they did not need.”[7] The government claimed that Harwood paid doctors to approve orders for medically unnecessary braces and tests, and that the doctors providing the orders “did not follow Medicare’s rules for telemedicine visits, did not have real medical relationships with the Medicare patients, and often signed orders for orthotic braces and genetic tests without any meaningful interaction with the Medicare patients.”[8]

After the doctors’ orders were obtained, Harwood then “sold [them] to [DME] supply companies, laboratories, and marketers who were part of the scheme.”[9] The DOJ’s press release details that Harwood used DME supply companies he owned and operated “to bill Medicare millions of dollars for orthotic braces that Medicare patients did not want or need.”[10]

The scheme is similarly described in the Agreed Factual Basis for Guilty Plea filed in the District Court: “HARWOOD, through [his companies], in exchange for illegal kickbacks and bribes, and often via interstate wires, sold doctors’ orders authorizing Medicare beneficiaries to receive medically unnecessary DME and genetic tests to DME suppliers . . ., laboratories, and purported marketers. HARWOOD and his co-conspirators targeted Medicare beneficiaries through telemarketing campaigns to induce them to accept medically unnecessary DME and genetic tests that DME suppliers and laboratories could bill to Medicare.”[11]

The government claimed that the scheme ultimately led to the submission of at least $46.2 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, of which Medicare paid $17.9 million.[12]

Consequences for Harwood

As part of his plea agreement, Harwood agreed to pay $17.9 million in restitution. The judge’s sentencing will occur later, but according to the DOJ, Harwood faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.[13]

What Role Can Whistleblowers Play in Stopping Healthcare Fraud?

Although we do not know whether whistleblowers played any role in bringing this case to light, whistleblowers are often instrumental in fighting healthcare fraud and preserving taxpayer dollars. Under the qui tam (or whistleblower) provisions of the False Claims Act, private parties can bring lawsuits on behalf of the government and may be eligible to receive up to 30% of successful recoveries.

According to Constantine Cannon whistleblower attorney Dan Noel: “This case underscores the government’s ongoing efforts to combat healthcare fraud, especially when the scheme targets Medicare patients and where companies bill Medicare for medically unnecessary products or services.”

Our Firm Helps False Claims Act Whistleblowers

Our firm has extensive experience representing whistleblowers under the False Claims Act and other whistleblower rewards programs, achieving many record-breaking successes.

If you are aware of healthcare fraud and believe you have a False Claims Act case, please contact us, and we will connect you with an experienced member of our whistleblower team for a free and confidential consultation.