Injuries have almost doubled in Pennsylvania
- In 2022, there were 167,254 work injuries and illnesses in Pennsylvania, of which 82 were fatal, according to the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation and Workplace Safety Annual Report.
- That’s an increase of 3.5% (5,622) from the number of injuries and illnesses reported in 2021, but a decrease of 4% (3) in the number of fatalities.
- The number of work injuries and illnesses in 2022 was about 96.5% higher than those in 2012 (85,117 reported injuries and illnesses in 2012), albeit with 19% fewer fatalities (101 reported fatalities in 2012).
- While the increase in injuries reported may be in part because of a change in the Bureau’s claim reporting standards in 2014 when it began including medical-only claims, that reported injuries have almost doubled within two decades should be concerning.
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Social Security Administration looking into workers’ comp overpayment
- The Social Security Administration Disability Insurance program can impose burdens on disability insurance beneficiaries and taxpayers because of overpayment.
- One recommendation focuses on preventing potential overpayments to individuals receiving concurrent federal workers’ compensation benefits.
- Specifically, in 2015, we recommended that SSA strengthen internal controls designed to prevent DI overpayments due to the concurrent receipt of Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) benefits.
- In response, SSA is working towards an agreement with the Department of Labor to use FECA benefit data to improve efficiencies in its ability to offset or reduce DI benefits when an individual is concurrently receiving FECA benefits.
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Master rigger indicted for fraud
- George Cole, a licensed Master Rigger, and his firm Cole NYC LLC, were indicted for stealing approximately $169,500 of wages from his workers between February 2022 and April 2023.
- He also operated without insurance for more than a year after failing to maintain his New York State Insurance Fund policy, while submitting forged documentation to New York City and State agencies claiming it was still in effect.
- The New York State Supreme Court indictment charges COLE and his company with Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, Failing to Secure Compensation under New York’s Workers’ Compensation Law.
- “These workers performed extremely dangerous rigging work from the top of landmark skyscrapers, a job that requires both extreme skill and nerves of steel,” said New York District Attorney Bragg.
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Pharmacist to pay $275K civil penalty
- A federal court in Texas recently ordered a San Antonio pharmacy and its pharmacist to pay a $275,000 civil penalty and imposed restrictions related to the dispensing of opioids and other controlled substances.
- The court enjoined Zarzamora Healthcare LLC, doing business as Rite-Away Pharmacy & Medical Supply #2, along with pharmacist-owner Jitendra Chaudhary, from dispensing certain opioid prescriptions.
- The order also mandates that the defendants undergo periodic comprehensive reviews of their dispensing practices to ensure compliance with the order and the Controlled Substances Act.
- The complaint alleged that the defendants repeatedly dispensed opioids and other controlled substances by filling prescriptions while ignoring indications that the prescriptions weren’t for any legitimate medical use.
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