Florida CFO: Seven arrested in $40 million workers’ compensation fraud scheme
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced Monday that seven people had been arrested in a workers’ compensation fraud bust. Investigators say they discovered more than $40 million in payroll had been concealed and not reported to the workers’ compensation insurance provider. If convicted, the seven people arrested could face up to 30 years in prison. WTSP (Tampa)
Late fireman becomes first in Virginia to win cancer coverage under new law
During the 2020 legislative session, state lawmakers expanded coverage for firefighters in Virginia, adding brain, testicular and colon cancer to the list of presumed work-related illnesses. The first fireman to win a workers’ compensation case for brain cancer was a Norfolk fireman who won the legal case in late September. He died from the cancer a week and a half later. According to union leaders, firefighters are 65 percent more likely to contract cancer because of exposure to toxic chemicals on the job and 14 percent more likely to die from cancer. WAVY
Cincinnati Reds contest workers comp claim filed by former minor league player
The Cincinnati Reds have filed an action in federal court in Chattanooga, Tennessee related to a workers’ compensation claim filed by a former Chattanooga Lookouts outfielder. The player filed his claim in California, but the Reds are contending the claim should be handled in Chattanooga instead. Chattanoogan
Chicago city official offers good news on workers’ compensation reform
Chicago’s Chief Financial Officer Jennie Huang Bennett this week delivered an encouraging progress report on work done by the outside administrator hired to oversee on the city’s a $100 million-a-year workers’ compensation program which, for decades, was the exclusive purview of a powerful, now-indicted alderman. Chicago Sun-Times