way to allocate more of the cost to benefits and medical treatment and less to administration and litigation. Key elements in any reform effort are as follows:
Stabilizing workers' compensation costs over the long term
Streamlining administration of the system
Reducing the costs associated with the resolution of medical issues
Limiting stress-related claims
Limiting vocational rehabilitation benefits
Safety Fact
Workers' Compensation scams in Florida
Hidden Payroll The owner of Citrus County roofing and painting business was arrested on charges of a evading $832,000 in workers' compensation premiu ese premiums are based on payol, and investigators charged that the roofer disguised about $1.5 million in payroll costs as subcontractor expenses.
Forklifted Foot
A Jacksonville warehouse manager was arrested on workers compensation fraud charges after collecting $166.836 from total disability daim. Although he daimed a forklift ran a over his foot causing him to be unable walk without assistance, investigators obtained to a videotape showing him walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding.
Slip 'n' Fall
A Gainesville woman was arrested two counts of grand theft and two counts of filing on false and fraudulent insurance claims. The from a series of 11 slip and fall charges stem accidents during a four-year period. Investigators allege the woman staged accidents in grocery and department stores to file daims for various back, head, arm, and leg injuries.
Drugstore Deal
The owner of North Florida drugstore was arrested following a 62-count federal a indictment charging that he submitted phony prescription daims for more than $1 mil- lion in Medicaid and state insurance reimbursements.
Insurance Mill
A suspended surgeon who owned an orthopedic dinic in Sunrise was arrested based on allegations of involvement in billing insurers for treatments not rendered, altering medical tests and soliciting patients through runners.
Chiropractic Claims
A Pompano Beach chiropractor was arrested in an alleged scheme to bill insurers for patient visits and treatments never provided. Soue Florida Department of Labor, Division of Workers' Compensation, 2006.