Double Dipping in Consulting: Where the Line Gets Crossed
There was a recent post on LinkedIn that received hundreds of hits and dozens of responses regarding double dipping. It got me thinking about the scenarios where it could be normal to be working for more than one client…but also, I’ve known many that may have been pushing the line. So let’s dive into this subject, and please feel free to share your thoughts on this.
In the world of EHR consulting, the term “double dipping” carries ethical, contractual, and professional implications. At its core, double dipping refers to a consultant working two or more paid engagements at the same time, without disclosure to the client(s), while presenting themselves as fully committed to each role. While working multiple jobs isn’t automatically illegal, double dipping crosses into unethical territory when deception, overlapping hours, or conflicts of interest are involved. The original post on LinkedIn focuses on the idea that consultants who are double dipping are stealing, lying, and cheating their clients. Ok, let’s dissect this some more.
Double dipping typically occurs when a consultant accepts multiple high-commitment projects simultaneously and bills each client as if they were working exclusively for them. This can include billing the same hours to two clients, logging into multiple Epic instances or other environments during overlapping work periods, or hiding one engagement from another. These behaviors raise red flags for consulting firms and health systems alike and can expose consultants to allegations of fraud, breach of contract, or termination.
Here are some rather common forms of double dipping:
- Simultaneous Epic Projects: Taking on two full-time, or near–full-time, Epic contracts at once during demanding phases like implementations, optimizations, or go-lives.
- Conflict of Interest: Supporting competing health systems or vendors, which can risk exposure of sensitive workflows, build strategies, or proprietary information.
- Fraudulent Billing: Charging two clients for the same block of time could escalate into billing fraud.
- Deception and Non-Disclosure: Intentionally hiding another role from an employer or client, violating trust and contractual obligations.
- Epic System Monitoring: Epic environments can detect concurrent logins across different client systems, which may trigger internal audits or investigations. See many of my past articles on being black listed.
Double dipping is not really applicable when supporting efforts through managed services and/or call center roles. For example, a consultant may be assigned scheduled support hours for one organization while simultaneously providing managed services coverage for another. Because these roles often involve “availability-based” billing rather than strict project milestones, clients expect their agents to be only partially assigned to them. There are situations where the client wants call agents to be 100% assigned to their organization, and in those examples, double dipping would not be appropriate.
Not all secondary work is unethical. Moonlighting can be acceptable when roles are low commitment, schedules do not overlap, and all parties are informed and consenting. For example, a consultant might take on limited advisory work or short-term troubleshooting outside of core hours. We can’t assume malicious behavior when all clients are aware, and the consultant is 100% transparent.
Consulting relies heavily on trust, transparency, and professionalism. While the flexibility of consulting can create opportunities for additional work, crossing the line into double dipping introduces significant ethical and legal risks. Whether in project-based consulting, managed services, or call center support, disclosure and honesty are essential. When in doubt, clear communication and written approval are the only safe paths forward. I believe that there is a competitive nature that also warranted many of the comments on the LinkedIn post. I would love to hear your thoughts. Share your insights on the subject in the comment section.
One Comment on “Double Dipping in Consulting: Where the Line Gets Crossed”
Leave a comment
Comments
 | Doug smithy on Double Dipping in Consulting:… |
 | consultanttips on As a consultant…who exac… |
 | sofia5t5 on As a consultant…who exac… |
 | topherlebedeff on HIMSS and ViVE…Who Did it… |
 | nickorum on Remembering Epic’s UGM on Sept… |
Click on my image below for my Professional Profile
consultant-tips.blog 
this happens all the time in the Health industry. as the ex spouse of a senior consultant for epic double dipping is more common than people would think. with contracts being six months or a year or even three months consultants sometimes apply for many positions and end up with more than one. it’s completely feasible if the projects are not that large, but the problem comes from consultants, being less than honest with their employers. Honesty in consulting is kind of a joke. Consultants are the most scamming ripoff artists in the world. per diem versus receipts, running up the bill to the exact amount of the per diem just because you can. Not to mention all the cheating that goes on with epic consultants, and the exams they have to take to remain in compliance with Epic’s continual updates. double dipping is the least of problems in the Consulting world. Try being black balled because some recruiter doesn’t like you. Then there’s the favoritism among recruiters and consultants not to mention vice president of major medical companies all over the country playing preferential treatment. It’s a convoluted bizarre world. you should do an article about airline and hotel points and how consultants get a fly for free on their employers dime. points should be considered in their compensation packages.
LikeLike