(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 Ohio R.C. Chapter 4121, 4123, 4127, or 4131 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 Ohio R.C. Chapter 4121, 4123, 4127, or 4131;
(4) Enter into an agreement or conspiracy to defraud the Bureau of Workers' Compensation or a self-insuring employer by making or presenting or causing to be made or presented a false claim for workers' compensation benefits;
(5) Make or present or cause to be made or presented a false statement concerning manual codes, classification or employees, payroll, paid compensation, or number of personnel, when information of that nature is necessary to determine the actual workers’ compensation premium or assessment owed to the Bureau by an employer;
(6) Alter, forge, or create a workers’ compensation certificate or falsely show current or correct workers’ compensation coverage;
(7) Fail to secure or maintain workers’ compensation coverage as required by Ohio R.C. Chapter 4123 with the intent to defraud the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of workers' compensation fraud. Except as otherwise provided in this division, workers' compensation fraud is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the value of premiums and assessments unpaid pursuant to actions described in divisions (a)(5), (a)(6), or (a)(7) of this section, or goods, services, property, or money stolen is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, workers' compensation fraud is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(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 under Federal, State or local 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 penalty for any act that is in violation of this section.
(e) For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
(1) "Claim" means any attempt to cause the Bureau of Workers' Compensation, an independent third party with whom the administrator or an employer contracts under Ohio R.C. 4121.44, or a self-insuring employer to make payment or reimbursement for workers' compensation benefits.
(2) "Employer," "employee," and "self-insuring employer" have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 4123.01.
(3) "Employment" means participating in any trade, occupation, business, service, or profession for substantial gainful remuneration.
(4) "False" means wholly or partially untrue or deceptive.
(5) "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.
(6) "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.
(7) "Remuneration" includes but is not limited to wages, commissions, rebates, and any other reward or consideration.
(8) "Services" includes but is not limited to any service provided by any health care provider to a claimant for workers' compensation benefits and any and all services provided by the Bureau as part of workers' compensation insurance coverage.
(9) "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.
(10) "Workers' compensation benefits" means any compensation or benefits payable under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4121, 4123, 4127, or 4131.
(ORC 2913.48)