Online Referral Programs, Telehealth, and Other OIG Hot Topics

The Trump II Administration is active in terms of regulating…and placing restrictions on…DME suppliers. Prime examples of these are OIG advisory opinions, fraud alerts, advisory bulletins and other written guidance. This program will discuss the most recent OIG guidance on issues vitally important to DME suppliers, including (i) subscribing to online referral programs, (ii) working with telehealth companies, (iii) joint ventures and other contracts with hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other referral sources, (iv) implementation of marketing programs, and (v) strategic relationships with physicians. Importantly, in light of OIG guidance, this program will discuss how arrangements and programs can be properly structured…and those that lead to a risk of an OIG enforcement action.

Private equity (PE) has become one of the most influential forces shaping the durable medical equipment (DME) industry. Over the past decade, investment firms have committed billions of dollars to healthcare services, fueling consolidation among DME providers and creating larger, multi-state organizations with greater operational scale and access to capital.

As these investment-backed companies expand through acquisitions, independent providers are facing new competitive realities. Many owners are receiving acquisition offers for the first time, while others are evaluating whether to grow through acquisition, seek outside investment, or remain independent.

This session examines how private equity is transforming the DME industry and what that means for provider owners and executives. Participants will learn why DME has become an attractive investment sector, how private equity firms identify acquisition targets, what characteristics drive valuation, and how platform companies execute acquisition strategies.

Rather than advocating for or against private equity, this session provides an objective, business-focused framework for understanding one of the most significant shifts affecting the DME industry today.

Healthcare fraud enforcement against DMEPOS suppliers continues to accelerate. Federal and state agencies are pursuing increasingly sophisticated investigations targeting suppliers, marketers, prescribers, call centers, lead generators, technology vendors, and other participants in the DMEPOS ecosystem. Many of today's enforcement actions arise from business relationships that appear legitimate on the surface but ultimately violate federal fraud and abuse laws.

This session examines the current civil and criminal enforcement landscape affecting the DMEPOS industry through the lens of actual enforcement actions, DOJ prosecutions, OIG investigations, and administrative actions brought against suppliers and their business partners throughout 2026. Attendees will gain a practical understanding of the arrangements that have resulted in False Claims Act liability, Anti-Kickback Statute violations, criminal prosecutions, Medicare revocations, and exclusion from federal healthcare programs.

The session will also address a growing concern within the industry: suppliers becoming involved in unlawful arrangements because evolving technologies, complex marketing models, and layered business relationships make it increasingly difficult to distinguish compliant business opportunities from illegal schemes.

Using real-world case studies and recent enforcement examples, this presentation will identify common warning signs, explain how regulators evaluate these arrangements, and provide practical guidance for conducting due diligence before entering new business relationships. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of today's enforcement priorities and practical steps to reduce regulatory risk while protecting their businesses.