Done Global
| Done Global | |
| Industry | Telehealth |
| Genre | Healthcare |
| Founder | Ruthia He |
| Headquarters | San Francisco |
Key people | Ruthia He (CEO) David Brody (Clinical President of Done Health P.C.) |
| Website | www.donefirst.com |
Done Global Inc., is a San Francisco-based[1] telehealth provider specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)[2] and other chronic psychiatric conditions.[3][4][5][6] Through virtual consultations[7] the company connects patients with clinicians who may prescribe medications such as Adderall, Ritalin (methylphenidate), and Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine). The company also offers digital therapies and support systems to provide mental health care to its patients.[8][2]
The company has since received scrutiny for its practices and has led to the federal criminal prosecution of its Founder and CEO, and Clinical President.[9][10][11][1]
History
[edit]Done Global Inc. was founded in 2019 by Ruthia He, a former Facebook product designer with no medical background.[4] The company capitalized on regulatory changes introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020,[12][13] when the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) relaxed rules requiring in-person consultations for prescribing controlled substances. This allowed Done to offer online access to ADHD medications, including Adderall, Ritalin, and Vyvanse.[14][15][2][8]
In 2021, Done’s head of operations, T.J. Williams, raised concerns about fraudulent patient behavior, citing falsified identities and manipulated documentation. He proposed tools to address these issues but was dismissed three months later.[14] Around the same time, Done implemented policies to expedite prescription renewals, paying clinicians for processing refills rather than conducting follow-up consultations. Clinicians managed large patient loads, with some approving renewals in under a minute and earning significant monthly incomes of approximately $20,000.[14][4]
He temporarily relocated to China in 2021, managing Done remotely while expanding operations in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou.[14] The Chinese Done team took over critical functions, including recruitment, advertising, and clinical policies.[14] In early 2022, a Justice Department investigation into Done’s prescribing practices began, and major pharmacy chains, including CVS and Walmart, stopped filling Done prescriptions. The China team subsequently assisted in recruiting alternative pharmacy partners.[14][12]
Later in 2022, Done faced scrutiny over its advertising practices, which included claims of quick ADHD assessments and medication access.[14] Despite certification issues, the company continued spending tens of millions of dollars ads on platforms like Google, TikTok, and Meta.[14][5]
In February 2023, federal investigators intercepted He in San Francisco as she prepared to travel to Hong Kong. Following a June arrest, financial records showed accelerated money transfers, including $500,000 sent to a Hong Kong entity and $1 million allocated to her legal defense.[14]
In 2024, the Justice Department charged Ruthia He and David Brody,[14][11][9] along with executive Riley Levy, doctor Christopher Luccese, and nurse practitioners Yina Cruz, Katrina Pratcher, and Erin Kim.[16] Advertising platforms, Google and Tik-Tok, banned Done’s ads by mid-2024.[17]
Services
[edit]Done Global provides ADHD treatment through 30-minute video evaluations.[2][4] Alongside online consultations, the company integrates digital therapies and support systems to deliver comprehensive mental health services. It collaborates with a network of pharmacies to streamline medication management and ensure timely access to prescribed treatments.[15] This telehealth model gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly expanded the use of remote healthcare services.[8][2][15]
Controvercy
[edit]In 2022, Federal authorities, led by the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), investigated Done Global Inc. for prescribing controlled substances like Adderall during the COVID-19 pandemic, when relaxed regulations allowed online prescriptions without in-person consultations. Done faced allegations that clinicians were pressured to diagnose ADHD and prescribe stimulants, highlighted by a 2021 internal report.[3][10]
Following a two-year investigation, the Justice Department charged Ruthia He, CEO of Done Global Inc., and David Brody, Clinical President of Done Health P.C., with distributing controlled substances via telemedicine, healthcare fraud, and obstruction of justice in June 2024.[9][11][14]
He and Brody allegedly exploited telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic to unlawfully prescribe over 40 million Adderall pills,[13] generating more than $100 million in revenue.[10][11] The charge alleges that the subscription-based platform targeted drug seekers, discouraged proper medical care, and defrauded Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers.[18] Despite reports of overdoses linked to Done’s practices, operations continued. These are the first recorded federal criminal prosecutions for drug distribution involving a telemedicine platform.[1][9][11] If convicted, the He and Brody face up to 20 years in prison.[9][10][11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Fry, Hannah (June 18, 2024). "California telehealth execs charged in ADHD prescription scheme amid nationwide med shortage". Los Angeles Times (published June 13, 2024). Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "DOJ Investigation into Done Global Inc.: Telemedicine Adderall Provider Under Scrutiny". Chapman Consulting Group. May 21, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Winkler, Rolfe (September 16, 2022). "DEA Investigating ADHD Telehealth Provider Done". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Winkler, Rolfe (August 19, 2022). "Harlan Band's Descent Started With an Easy Online Adderall Prescription". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Winkler, Rolfe (June 13, 2024). "Executives From ADHD Startup Arrested, Charged With Fraud". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ Blum, Dani (June 18, 2024). "A.D.H.D. Startup Executives Accused of $100 Million Fraud in Adderall Scheme". New York Times (published June 13, 2024). Retrieved December 3, 2024.
- ^ Howard, Jacqueline (June 14, 2024). "CDC warns access to ADHD meds may be disrupted after arrests of health-care startup executives". ABC7 New York. CNN. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c Saraceno, Nicholas (May 10, 2024). "Done Global Elevates Pharmacy Network to Help Address ADHD Medication Shortages". Pharmaceutical Commerce. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Founder/CEO and Clinical President of Digital Health Company Arrested for $100M Adderall Distribution and Health Care Fraud Scheme" (Press release). U.S. Department of Justice. June 13, 2024. Archived from the original on November 18, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Lesaca, Timothy (July 10, 2024). "The Rise & Fall of Done Global: Lessons in Virtual ADHD Medication Management". Bulletin of the Allegheny County Medical Society. Vol. 114, no. 7. Retrieved December 3, 2024 – via ResearchGate.
- ^ a b c d e f Sherry, Ben (June 14, 2024). "Founder of ADHD Startup Done Global Arrested for Fraud". Inc. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Fleck, Carole (June 25, 2024). "Done ADHD Investigation Sparks Worry of Inadequate Care". ADDitude. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Pottle, Zachary (June 18, 2024). "Telehealth Startup Executives Charged With Fraud". Addiction Center. Archived from the original on August 5, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Winkler, Rolfe (September 26, 2024). "A U.S. Crackdown Targeted an Adderall 'Pill Mill.' Secretly, It Had Already Moved to China". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c Larson, Chris (September 16, 2022). "DEA Reportedly Investigating Virtual ADHD Startup Done Global". Behavioral Health Business. Archived from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ Wadsworth, Jennifer (June 28, 2024). "Adderall fraud: New charges as feds expand probe into SF startup". The San Francisco Standard. Archived from the original on July 22, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ Pennic, Fred (June 27, 2024). "Google and TikTok Ban Done Global Ads Amid Telehealth Adderall Controversy". Hit Consultant. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ Milgram, Anne (June 14, 2024). "Statement from DEA Administrator Anne Milgram on Done Global Inc" (Press release). Drug Enforcement Administration. Retrieved December 2, 2024.