RE: Approached by net to do telemedicine for pts never seen before -- what do you think

[Guest guest]

Hi Matt,

I suspect that I got the same solicitation by email. Below is a copy of the email. I would not consider this. I suspect that the Texas state Medical Board would consider this unethical if not illegal to prescribe for a patient that you have not examined. Also I would guess that this service charges the patient 2 to 4 times what they are offering to pay the physician. I would think that this would be very risky from a malpractice liability standpoint.

Tom MD

solo FP

Arlington, TX

The email that I received:

Dr

I wanted to make you aware of a search awarded to my company for physicians interested in TELEMEDICINE. With your background, I thought you might be potentially interested.

My client is an on-line telehealthcare organization that provides non urgent adjunctive healthcare services to patients who seek physician consultation.

This program was created to provide and maintain doctor/patient relationship outside of the normal physician/ hospital setting. With the widespread use of the Internet, many consumers have found the Internet a source of convenience, leading to time and cost savings. The physicians can assist with caring for patient’s routine medical management. My client provides a link to millions of Americans that are seeking convenient and professional care without incurring the cost of an emergency room or urgent care visit.

How it works:

Step 1. Patients will be given a list of physicians to choose from based on their geographic location. Once chosen, the patient’s medical records will be faxed or e-mailed to the selected physician for review. At a mutually agreed upon time, the patient(s) will log into our virtual waiting room (with the webcam supplied in their enrollment package) where the physician will then be able to consult with the patient. The number of patients seen is determined by the encounter level selected by the physician. Six levels will be offered, they are as follows:

· $26,000/Year = 10 Consults/Day or 50/Week

· $39,000/Year = 15 Consults/Day or 75/Week

· $62,000/Year = 20 Consults/Day or 100/Week

· $112,500/Year = 30 Consults/Day or 150/Week

· $131,250/Year = 35 Consults/Day or 175/Week

· $175,000/Year = 40 Consults/Day or 200/Week

Step 2. Once the encounter is complete make your recommendations to the patient. If this involves a prescription, a 90 day supply should be written. The patients will receive their meds via mail order within 3-5 business days from a pharmacy of their choice or from one of our affiliates. If further testing is needed, it is the responsibility of the patient to arrange for this.

Step 3. On a weekly basis, physicians will be required to send an email to indicate the number of encounters for that week. The email will be confirmed by the online numbers. All payments are mailed at the end of every calendar month.

If you would like to look consider this position further, call or email me asap. If not, and you think of someone who might appreciate this opportunity, please forward this email and have them call me asap. This is the real thing. My client is limiting the initial enrollment to 100 physicians nationwide and 30 in Texas.. The heath plan that they have teamed up with wants my client to be able to support 2000 encounters/ DAY by Jan 6 2007!!

Hope to hear from you soon...

Happy Holidays!

Bob

Bob Eskridge, CPC, CTS, PRC, CSP

President &

Board Certified Physician Recruiter

Eskridge & Associates

(Office)

(cell)

(fax)

"Here for you 24/7"

Member – National Coalition of Healthcare Recruiters

Member - National Association of Personnel Services

Approached by net to do telemedicine for pts never seen before -- what do you think

RE telemedicine for pts you don't know.

I was solicited this evening to do telemedicine for $10/encounter for a practice out of Florida, registered to a South Carolina LLC.

They state that they'll "refer" pts to you in your state, send their records by fax, you'll interview by video conferencing, and then if prescription advised, you're to send this for 90 day.

Pts on further inquiry were pts "whose insurance doesn't pay enough for their current doc to see them"

You're required to keep all the "records" at your office.

This sounds very very fishy to me.

Anyone else heard of doing "virtual visits" for pts never seen by you in office, ever, for very low rates?

Oh, and the recruiter (who lists themselves as a "board certified physician recruiter" -- couldn't find such a board on Google) says that the practice will "cover malpractice if yours doesn't" but the contract specifically states you need to supply your own.

Dr Matt Levin

FP in Western PA

[Guest guest]

this has got to be a scam. the love of money is the root of all evil. stay way clear of this one, and consider reporting it to the state. LL wrote: Hi Matt, I

suspect that I got the same solicitation by email. Below is a copy of the email. I would not consider this. I suspect that the Texas state Medical Board would consider this unethical if not illegal to prescribe for a patient that you have not examined. Also I would guess that this service charges the patient 2 to 4 times what they are offering to pay the physician. I would think that this would be very risky from a malpractice liability standpoint. Tom MD solo FP Arlington, TX The email that I received: Dr I wanted to make you aware of a search awarded to my company for physicians interested in TELEMEDICINE. With your background, I thought you might be potentially interested. My client is an on-line telehealthcare organization that provides non urgent adjunctive healthcare services to patients who seek physician

consultation. This program was created to provide and maintain doctor/patient relationship outside of the normal physician/ hospital setting. With the widespread use of the Internet, many consumers have found the Internet a source of convenience, leading to time and cost savings. The physicians can assist with caring for patient’s routine medical management. My client provides a link to millions of Americans that are seeking convenient and professional care without incurring the cost of an emergency room or urgent care visit. How it works: Step 1. Patients will be given a list of physicians to choose from based on their geographic location. Once chosen, the patient’s medical records will be faxed or e-mailed to the selected physician for review. At a mutually agreed upon time, the patient(s) will log into our virtual waiting room (with the webcam supplied in their

enrollment package) where the physician will then be able to consult with the patient. The number of patients seen is determined by the encounter level selected by the physician. Six levels will be offered, they are as follows: · $26,000/Year = 10 Consults/Day or 50/Week · $39,000/Year = 15 Consults/Day or 75/Week · $62,000/Year = 20 Consults/Day or 100/Week · $112,500/Year = 30 Consults/Day or 150/Week · $131,250/Year = 35 Consults/Day or 175/Week · $175,000/Year = 40 Consults/Day or 200/Week Step 2. Once the encounter is complete make your recommendations to the patient. If this involves a prescription, a 90 day supply should be written. The patients will receive their meds via mail order within 3-5 business days from a pharmacy of their choice or from one of our affiliates. If further testing is needed, it is the responsibility of the patient to arrange for this. Step 3. On a weekly basis, physicians will be required to send an email to indicate the number of encounters for that week. The email will be confirmed by the online numbers. All payments are mailed at the end of every calendar month. If you would like to look consider this position further, call or email me asap. If not, and you think of someone who might appreciate this opportunity, please forward this email and have them call me asap. This is the real thing. My client is limiting the initial enrollment to 100 physicians nationwide and 30 in Texas.. The heath plan that they have teamed up with wants my client to be able to support 2000 encounters/ DAY by Jan 6 2007!! Hope to hear from you soon... Happy Holidays! Bob Bob Eskridge, CPC, CTS, PRC, CSP President & Board Certified Physician Recruiter Eskridge & Associates (Office) (cell) (fax) "Here for you 24/7" Member – National Coalition of Healthcare Recruiters Member - National Association of Personnel Services Approached by net to do telemedicine for pts never seen before -- what do you think RE telemedicine for pts you don't know. I was solicited this evening to do telemedicine for $10/encounter for a practice out of Florida, registered to a South Carolina LLC. They state that they'll "refer" pts to you in your state, send their records by fax, you'll interview by video conferencing, and then if prescription advised, you're to send this for 90 day. Pts on further inquiry were pts "whose insurance doesn't pay enough for their current doc to see them" You're required to keep all the "records" at your office. This sounds very very fishy to me. Anyone else heard of doing "virtual visits" for pts never seen by you in office, ever, for very low

rates? Oh, and the recruiter (who lists themselves as a "board certified physician recruiter" -- couldn't find such a board on Google) says that the practice will "cover malpractice if yours doesn't" but the contract specifically states you need to supply your own. Dr Matt Levin FP in Western PA __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

RE Telemedicine for new pts

Yep, same one.

But guy kept sending me answers for my questions, claims 8 docs have signed up and 37 were deciding.

While he tried to convince me that $10/pt reimbursement was found money-- because my "overhead" would be so small.

The person is a recruiter.

The "practice" is in Florida, owned by an LLC out of South Carolina.

The details of "pts that no longer can see their primary doc because the doc won't accept the pt's 'lower insurance reimbursement' ", but I as a doc should "see" a pt on the screen I don't know, for $10???

Shame on this "recruiter."

This sounds like such a scam and unethical scheme that I wonder if the Medical Society of Florida would want to know about it, since the "practice" is in the state of Florida?

M

Approached by net to do telemedicine for pts never seen before -- what do you think

RE telemedicine for pts you don't know.

I was solicited this evening to do telemedicine for $10/encounter for a practice out of Florida, registered to a South Carolina LLC.

They state that they'll "refer" pts to you in your state, send their records by fax, you'll interview by video conferencing, and then if prescription advised, you're to send this for 90 day.

Pts on further inquiry were pts "whose insurance doesn't pay enough for their current doc to see them"

You're required to keep all the "records" at your office.

This sounds very very fishy to me.

Anyone else heard of doing "virtual visits" for pts never seen by you in office, ever, for very low rates?

Oh, and the recruiter (who lists themselves as a "board certified physician recruiter" -- couldn't find such a board on Google) says that the practice will "cover malpractice if yours doesn't" but the contract specifically states you need to supply your own.

Dr Matt Levin

FP in Western PA

[Guest guest]

Oh yes, that would

definitely be a violation of your states medical practice act. In other words,

you would be subject to loss of medical license. Any form of treatment for a

patient you have not seen face to face is illegal. At least one doctor in Ohio has had board discipline

for “internet prescribing”, etc recently.

Re:

Approached by net to do telemedicine for pts never seen

before -- what do you think

RE Telemedicine for new pts

Yep, same one.

But guy kept sending me answers for

my questions, claims 8 docs have signed up and 37 were deciding.

While he tried to convince me that

$10/pt reimbursement was found money-- because my " overhead " would be

so small.

The person is a recruiter.

The " practice " is in

Florida, owned by an LLC out of South Carolina.

The details of " pts that no

longer can see their primary doc because the doc won't accept the pt's 'lower

insurance reimbursement' " , but I as a doc should " see " a pt on

the screen I don't know, for $10???

Shame on this " recruiter. "

This sounds like such a scam and

unethical scheme that I wonder if the Medical Society of Florida would want to

know about it, since the " practice " is in the state of Florida?

M

Approached by net to do telemedicine for

pts never seen before -- what do you think

RE telemedicine for pts you don't

know.

I was solicited this evening to do

telemedicine for $10/encounter for a practice out of Florida, registered

to a South Carolina

LLC.

They state that they'll

" refer " pts to you in your state, send their records by fax, you'll

interview by video conferencing, and then if prescription advised, you're to

send this for 90 day.

Pts on further inquiry were pts

" whose insurance doesn't pay enough for their current doc to see

them "

You're required to keep all the

" records " at your office.

This sounds very very fishy to me.

Anyone else heard of doing

" virtual visits " for pts never seen by you in office, ever, for very

low rates?

Oh, and the recruiter (who lists

themselves as a " board certified physician recruiter " -- couldn't

find such a board on Google) says that the practice will " cover

malpractice if yours doesn't " but the contract specifically states you

need to supply your own.

Dr Matt Levin

FP in Western PA

[Guest guest]

I would immediately pass

along the “recruiter’s” contact info to the state medical

board and/or attorney general’s office, as that is illegal.

Approached by net to do telemedicine for pts never seen before -- what do you

think

RE telemedicine for pts you don't

know.

I was solicited this evening to do

telemedicine for $10/encounter for a practice out of Florida, registered

to a South Carolina

LLC.

They state that they'll

" refer " pts to you in your state, send their records by fax, you'll

interview by video conferencing, and then if prescription advised, you're to

send this for 90 day.

Pts on further inquiry were pts

" whose insurance doesn't pay enough for their current doc to see

them "

You're required to keep all the

" records " at your office.

This sounds very very fishy to me.

Anyone else heard of doing

" virtual visits " for pts never seen by you in office, ever, for very

low rates?

Oh, and the recruiter (who lists

themselves as a " board certified physician recruiter " -- couldn't

find such a board on Google) says that the practice will " cover

malpractice if yours doesn't " but the contract specifically states you

need to supply your own.

Dr Matt Levin

FP in Western PA

[Guest guest]

STAY AWAY

I believe the state of Florida is the only one in the US that still

allows these type of online pharmacies (that what it really is).

A patient of mine about 5 years ago approached me for a similiar

situation. I am glad I said no. He was shut down and fined well over

$1,000,000. It is certainly illegal.

rocky

--- Levin wrote:

> RE Telemedicine for new pts

>

> Yep, same one.

> But guy kept sending me answers for my questions, claims 8 docs have

> signed up and 37 were deciding.

>

> While he tried to convince me that $10/pt reimbursement was found

> money-- because my " overhead " would be so small.

>

> The person is a recruiter.

> The " practice " is in Florida, owned by an LLC out of South Carolina.

> The details of " pts that no longer can see their primary doc because

> the doc won't accept the pt's 'lower insurance reimbursement' " , but

> I as a doc should " see " a pt on the screen I don't know, for $10???

>

> Shame on this " recruiter. "

>

> This sounds like such a scam and unethical scheme that I wonder if

> the Medical Society of Florida would want to know about it, since the

> " practice " is in the state of Florida?

>

> M

>

>

> Approached by net to do

> telemedicine for pts never seen before -- what do you think

>

>

>

> RE telemedicine for pts you don't know.

>

> I was solicited this evening to do telemedicine for $10/encounter

> for a practice out of Florida, registered to a South Carolina LLC.

>

> They state that they'll " refer " pts to you in your state, send

> their records by fax, you'll interview by video conferencing, and

> then if prescription advised, you're to send this for 90 day.

>

> Pts on further inquiry were pts " whose insurance doesn't pay enough

> for their current doc to see them "

>

> You're required to keep all the " records " at your office.

>

> This sounds very very fishy to me.

>

> Anyone else heard of doing " virtual visits " for pts never seen by

> you in office, ever, for very low rates?

> Oh, and the recruiter (who lists themselves as a " board certified

> physician recruiter " -- couldn't find such a board on Google) says

> that the practice will " cover malpractice if yours doesn't " but the

> contract specifically states you need to supply your own.

>

> Dr Matt Levin

> FP in Western PA

>

>

>

>

>

>

Rakesh Patel MD

Arizona Sun Family Medicine, P.C.

633 East Ray Road, #101

Gilbert, Arizona 85296

www.azsunfm.com

PLEASE NOTE: Email is not a secure form of communication. It should not be used

for urgent or sensitive messages. Email may be done securely through our web

portal. If you have a medical emergency go to an Emergency Room or call 911.

[Guest guest]

Right,

even if the state of FL allows them, that does not mean the med board allows

docs to do that.

Re:

Approached by net to do telemedicine for pts never seen

before -- what do you think

STAY AWAY

I believe the state of Florida is the only one in the US that still

allows these type of online pharmacies (that what it really is).

A patient of mine about 5 years ago approached me for a similiar

situation. I am glad I said no. He was shut down and fined well over

$1,000,000. It is certainly illegal.

rocky

--- Levin <mattlevadelphia (DOT) net>

wrote:

> RE Telemedicine for new pts

>

> Yep, same one.

> But guy kept sending me answers for my questions, claims 8 docs have

> signed up and 37 were deciding.

>

> While he tried to convince me that $10/pt reimbursement was found

> money-- because my " overhead " would be so small.

>

> The person is a recruiter.

> The " practice " is in Florida, owned by an LLC out of South

Carolina.

> The details of " pts that no longer can see their primary doc because

> the doc won't accept the pt's 'lower insurance reimbursement' " , but

> I as a doc should " see " a pt on the screen I don't know, for

$10???

>

> Shame on this " recruiter. "

>

> This sounds like such a scam and unethical scheme that I wonder if

> the Medical Society of Florida would want to know about it, since the

> " practice " is in the state of Florida?

>

> M

>

>

> Approached by net to do

> telemedicine for pts never seen before -- what do you think

>

>

>

> RE telemedicine for pts you don't know.

>

> I was solicited this evening to do telemedicine for $10/encounter

> for a practice out of Florida, registered to a South Carolina LLC.

>

> They state that they'll " refer " pts to you in your state, send

> their records by fax, you'll interview by video conferencing, and

> then if prescription advised, you're to send this for 90 day.

>

> Pts on further inquiry were pts " whose insurance doesn't pay enough

> for their current doc to see them "

>

> You're required to keep all the " records " at your office.

>

> This sounds very very fishy to me.

>

> Anyone else heard of doing " virtual visits " for pts never seen

by

> you in office, ever, for very low rates?

> Oh, and the recruiter (who lists themselves as a " board certified

> physician recruiter " -- couldn't find such a board on Google) says

> that the practice will " cover malpractice if yours doesn't " but

the

> contract specifically states you need to supply your own.

>

> Dr Matt Levin

> FP in Western PA

>

>

>

>

>

>

Rakesh Patel MD

Arizona Sun Family Medicine, P.C.

633 East Ray Road, #101

Gilbert, Arizona 85296

www.azsunfm.com

PLEASE NOTE: Email is not a secure form of communication. It should not be used

for urgent or sensitive messages. Email may be done securely through our web

portal. If you have a medical emergency go to an Emergency Room or call 911.

[Guest guest]

I suspect the ‘board certified

physician recruiter’ means he is looking for board certified physicians,

and not that he is a board certified recruiter.

A. Eads, M.D.

Pinnacle Family Medicine, PLLC

phone fax

P.O.

Box 7275

Woodland

Park, CO 80863

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Levin

Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2006

8:20 PM

To:

Subject:

Approached by net to do telemedicine for pts never seen before -- what do you

think

RE telemedicine for pts you don't know.

I was solicited this evening to do telemedicine for

$10/encounter for a practice out of Florida,

registered to a South Carolina

LLC.

They state that they'll " refer " pts to you in your

state, send their records by fax, you'll interview by video conferencing, and

then if prescription advised, you're to send this for 90 day.

Pts on further inquiry were pts " whose insurance

doesn't pay enough for their current doc to see them "

You're required to keep all the " records " at your

office.

This sounds very very fishy to me.

Anyone else heard of doing " virtual visits " for

pts never seen by you in office, ever, for very low rates?

Oh, and the recruiter (who lists themselves as a " board

certified physician recruiter " -- couldn't find such a board on Google)

says that the practice will " cover malpractice if yours doesn't " but

the contract specifically states you need to supply your own.

Dr Matt Levin

FP in Western PA

[Guest guest]

This is scary stuff!

A. Eads, M.D.

Pinnacle Family Medicine, PLLC

phone fax

P.O.

Box 7275

Woodland

Park, CO 80863

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2006

9:14 PM

To:

Subject: Re:

Approached by net to do telemedicine for pts never seen

before -- what do you think

Hi Matt,

I suspect that I got the same solicitation by

email. Below is a copy of the email. I would not consider

this. I suspect that the Texas

state Medical Board would consider this unethical if not illegal to prescribe

for a patient that you have not examined. Also I would guess that this

service charges the patient 2 to 4 times what they are offering to pay the

physician. I would think that this would be very risky from a malpractice

liability standpoint.

Tom MD

solo FP

Arlington,

TX

The email that I received:

Dr

I wanted to make you aware of a search awarded to my company

for physicians interested in TELEMEDICINE. With your background, I thought you

might be potentially interested.

My client is an

on-line telehealthcare organization that provides non urgent adjunctive

healthcare services to patients who seek physician consultation.

This program was

created to provide and maintain doctor/patient relationship outside of the

normal physician/ hospital setting. With the widespread use of the Internet,

many consumers have found the Internet a source of convenience, leading to time

and cost savings. The physicians can assist with caring for

patient’s routine medical management. My client provides a link to millions of

Americans that are seeking convenient and professional care without incurring

the cost of an emergency room or urgent care visit.

How it works:

Step 1. Patients will be

given a list of physicians to choose from based on their geographic location.

Once chosen, the patient’s medical records will be faxed or e-mailed to the

selected physician for review. At a mutually agreed upon time, the

patient(s) will log into our virtual waiting room (with the webcam supplied in

their enrollment package) where the physician will then be able to consult with

the patient. The number of patients seen is determined by the encounter

level selected by the physician. Six levels will be offered, they are as

follows:

· $26,000/Year = 10 Consults/Day

or 50/Week

· $39,000/Year = 15

Consults/Day or 75/Week

· $62,000/Year = 20

Consults/Day or 100/Week

· $112,500/Year = 30

Consults/Day or 150/Week

· $131,250/Year = 35

Consults/Day or 175/Week

· $175,000/Year = 40

Consults/Day or 200/Week

Step 2. Once the

encounter is complete make your recommendations to the patient. If this

involves a prescription, a 90 day supply should be written. The patients will

receive their meds via mail order within 3-5 business days from a pharmacy of

their choice or from one of our affiliates. If further testing is needed, it is

the responsibility of the patient to arrange for this.

Step 3. On a

weekly basis, physicians will be required to send an email to indicate the

number of encounters for that week. The email will be confirmed by the

online numbers. All payments are mailed at the end of every calendar month.

If you would like to look consider this position further, call or

email me asap. If not, and you think of someone who might appreciate this

opportunity, please forward this email and have them call me asap. This

is the real thing. My client is limiting the initial enrollment to 100

physicians nationwide and 30 in Texas..

The heath plan that they have teamed up with wants my client to be able to

support 2000 encounters/ DAY by Jan 6 2007!!

Hope to hear from you soon...

Happy Holidays!

Bob

Bob

Eskridge, CPC, CTS, PRC, CSP

President

&

Board

Certified Physician Recruiter

Eskridge & Associates

(Office)

(cell)

(fax)

" Here

for you 24/7 "

Member – National Coalition of Healthcare Recruiters

Member - National Association of Personnel Services

Approached by net to do telemedicine for

pts never seen before -- what do you think

RE telemedicine for pts you don't know.

I was solicited this evening to do telemedicine for

$10/encounter for a practice out of Florida,

registered to a South Carolina

LLC.

They state that they'll " refer " pts to you in your

state, send their records by fax, you'll interview by video conferencing, and

then if prescription advised, you're to send this for 90 day.

Pts on further inquiry were pts " whose insurance

doesn't pay enough for their current doc to see them "

You're required to keep all the " records " at your

office.

This sounds very very fishy to me.

Anyone else heard of doing " virtual visits " for

pts never seen by you in office, ever, for very low rates?

Oh, and the recruiter (who lists themselves as a " board

certified physician recruiter " -- couldn't find such a board on Google)

says that the practice will " cover malpractice if yours doesn't " but

the contract specifically states you need to supply your own.

Dr Matt Levin

FP in Western PA