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(A) No person, with purpose to defraud or knowing that the
person is facilitating a fraud shall do any of the following:
(1) Receive workers' compensation benefits to which the person is not
entitled;
(2) Make or present or cause to be made or presented a false or misleading
statement with the purpose to secure payment for goods or services rendered
under Chapter 4121., 4123., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised code or to secure
workers' compensation benefits;
(3) Alter, falsify, destroy, conceal, or remove any record or document that is
necessary to fully establish the validity of any claim filed with, or necessary to
establish the nature and validity of all goods and services for which reimbursement
or payment was received or is requested from, the bureau of workers' compensation, or
a self-insuring employer under Chapter 4121., 4123., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised
Code;
(4) Enter into an agreement or conspiracy to defraud the bureau or a self-insuring
employer by making or presenting or causing to be made or presented a false claim for
workers' compensation benefits.
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of workers' compensation
fraud. Except as otherwise provided in this division, a violation of this section is
a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the value of the goods, services, property, or
money stolen is five hundred dollars or more and is less than five thousand dollars,
a violation of this section is a felony of the fifth degree. If the value of the
goods services, property, or money stolen is five thousand dollars or more and is
less than one hundred thousand dollars, a violation of this section is a felony of
the fourth degree. If the value of the goods services, property, or money stolen is
one hundred thousand dollars or more, a violation of this section is a felony of the
third degree.
(C) Upon application of the governmental body that conducted the
investigation and prosecution of a violation of this section, the court shall order
the person who is convicted of the violation to pay the governmental body its costs of
investigating and prosecuting the case. These costs are in addition to any other
costs or penalty provided in the Revised Code or any other section of law.
(D) The remedies and penalties provided in this section are not
exclusive remedies and penalties and do not preclude the use of any other criminal or
civil remedy or pentalty for any act that is in violation of this section.
(E) As used in this section:
(1) "False" means wholly or partially untrue or deceptive.
(2) "Goods" includes, but is not limited to, medical supplies,
appliances, rehabilitative equipment, and any other apparatus or furnishing
provided or used in the care, treatment, or rehabilitation of a claimant for workers'
compensation benefits.
3) "Services" includes, but is not limited to, any service provided by
any health care provider to a claimant for workers' compensation benefits.
(4) "Claim" means any attempt to cause the bureau, an independent third
party with whom the administrator or an employer contracts under section 4121.44 of
the Revised Code, or a self-insuring employer to make payment or reimbursement for
workers' compensation benefits.
(5) "Employment" means participating in any trade, occupation, business,
service, or profession for substantial gainful remuneration.
(6) "Employer", "employee," and "self-insuring employer"
have the same meanings as in section 4123.01 of the Revised Code.
(7) "Remuneration" includes, but is not limited to, wages, commissions,
rebates, and any other reward or consideration.
(8) "Statement" includes, but is not limited to, any oral, written,
electronic, electronic impulse, or magnetic communication notice, letter,
memorandum, receipt for payment, invoice, account, financial statement, bill for
services; a diagnosis, prognosis, prescription, hospital, medical, or dental chart
or other record; and a computer generated document.
(9) "Records" means any medical, professional, financial, or business
record relating to the treatment or care of any person, to goods or services provided
to any person, or to rates paid for goods or services provided to any person, or any
record that the administrator of workers' compensation requires pursuant to rule.
(10) "Workers' compensation benefits" means any compensation or
benefits payable under Chapter 4121., 4123., 4127., or 4131. of the Revised Code.
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