The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation was set up to assist injured employees in their time of need by providing necessary funding to help them through the period during which they cannot work. When a person makes fraudulent claims for workers’ compensation benefits, it actually takes funding away from those who need it.
An Ohio chiropractor was indicted yesterday with workers’ compensation fraud and theft charges. The Fairfield chiropractor allegedly used the names and provider identification numbers of several other area chiropractors with whom he previously practiced. The chiropractor had been permanently decertified as a health care provider for the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. The decertification prevented him from seeking or receiving benefits from the bureau in the future.
“This case demonstrates the commitment of the Attorney General’s office to vigorously prosecute anyone who tries to circumvent the rules and cheat Ohio workers through abuse of the workers compensation program,” said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.
This was not the first time that the chiropractor has faced charges of workers’ compensation fraud. In December of 1996, the chiropractor had pled guilty to similar fraud charges. In that instance, he had billed the bureau for approximately $13,006 worth of services as proprietor of Advantage Care Chiropractic. The problem with his bill was that the services had never been provided.
According to the administrator of the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, “Workers’ compensation fraud threatens the integrity and solvency of the State Insurance Fund. Our investigative team works aggressively to root out and prosecute health care providers, as employers and injured workers, who are attempting to cheat Ohio’s workers’ compensation system.”
Source: Fox19 “Chiropractor indicted for workers’ comp fraud, theft” 1/25/11