Select Subcommittee Expands Investigation into Monetization of Coronavirus Misinformation

Washington, D.C. (February 23, 2022) – Today, Rep. James E. Clyburn, Chairman of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, sent a letter to Cadence Health requesting information relevant to the Select Subcommittee’s ongoing investigation into efforts by online entities to spread misinformation and profit from facilitating access to disproven, potentially hazardous coronavirus treatments.  Cadence Health reportedly provided the telemedicine platform used by medical providers affiliated with SpeakWithAnMD and America’s Frontline Doctors (AFLDS) to conduct telehealth consultations and write off-label prescriptions for discredited coronavirus treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.

“Since Cadence Health provided a platform for SpeakWithAnMD.com and AFLDS to conduct these consultations, certain information critical to the Select Subcommittee’s investigation is in Cadence Health’s exclusive possession,” wrote Chairman Clyburn.  “The Select Subcommittee needs this information to understand the reach and impact of online entities pushing discredited treatments in order to fully understand the extent to which they may have put American lives at risk and set back our nation’s efforts to combat the pandemic.”

On October 29, 2021, the Select Subcommittee launched an investigation into companies promoting and profiting off of coronavirus misinformation after public reports indicated that SpeakWithAnMD and AFLDS were promoting coronavirus misinformation that spurred demand for unproven and potentially hazardous coronavirus treatments and then profiting by facilitating access to prescriptions for those drugs. 

Cadence Health charged SpeakWithAnMD—reportedly its first and only customer—a total of $17,500 for use of its telemedicine platform.  Hundreds of thousands of patient profiles were added last year to the Cadence Health database utilized by SpeakWithAnMD.  The vast majority of these patients were referred to SpeakWithAnMD from AFLDS.  Tens of thousands of these individuals paid for telehealth consultations, and thousands received off-label prescriptions for coronavirus treatments, facilitated in part by Cadence Health’s platform.  Cadence Health terminated SpeakWithAnMD’s service and canceled its contract in September 2021 after it learned about SpeakWithAnMD’s practices.  

Click here to read Chairman Clyburn’s letter to Cadence Health.