Effective - 01 Jan 2017, 2 histories
287.128. Unlawful acts, penalties — fraud or noncompliance, complaint may be filed, effect — fraud and noncompliance unit established, purpose, confidentiality of records — annual report, contents. — 1. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly present or cause to be presented any false or fraudulent claim for the payment of benefits pursuant to a workers' compensation claim.
2. It shall be unlawful for any insurance company or self-insurer in this state to knowingly and intentionally refuse to comply with known and legally indisputable compensation obligations with intent to defraud.
3. It shall be unlawful for any person to:
(1) Knowingly present multiple claims for the same occurrence with intent to defraud;
(2) Knowingly assist, abet, solicit or conspire with:
(a) Any person who knowingly presents any false or fraudulent claim for the payment of benefits;
(b) Any person who knowingly presents multiple claims for the same occurrence with an intent to defraud; or
(c) Any person who purposefully prepares, makes or subscribes to any writing with the intent to present or use the same, or to allow it to be presented in support of any such claim;
(3) Knowingly make or cause to be made any false or fraudulent claim for payment of a health care benefit;
(4) Knowingly submit a claim for a health care benefit which was not used by, or on behalf of, the claimant;
(5) Knowingly present multiple claims for payment of the same health care benefit with an intent to defraud;
(6) Knowingly make or cause to be made any false or fraudulent material statement or material representation for the purpose of obtaining or denying any benefit;
(7) Knowingly make or cause to be made any false or fraudulent statements with regard to entitlement to benefits with the intent to discourage an injured worker from making a legitimate claim;
(8) Knowingly make or cause to be made a false or fraudulent material statement to an investigator of the division in the course of the investigation of fraud or noncompliance.
For the purposes of subdivisions (6), (7), and (8) of this subsection, the term "statement" includes any notice, proof of injury, bill for services, payment for services, hospital or doctor records, X-ray or test results.
4. Any person violating any of the provisions of subsection 1 or 2 of this section shall be guilty of a class E felony. In addition, the person shall be liable to the state of Missouri for a fine up to ten thousand dollars or double the value of the fraud whichever is greater. Any person violating any of the provisions of subsection 3 of this section shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor and the person shall be liable to the state of Missouri for a fine up to ten thousand dollars. Any person who has previously been found guilty of violating any of the provisions of subsection 1, 2 or 3 of this section and who subsequently violates any of the provisions of subsection 1, 2 or 3 of this section shall be guilty of a class D felony.
5. It shall be unlawful for any person, company, or other entity to prepare or provide an invalid certificate of insurance as proof of workers' compensation insurance. Any person violating any of the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a class E felony and, in addition, shall be liable to the state of Missouri for a fine up to ten thousand dollars or double the value of the fraud, whichever is greater.
6. Any person who knowingly misrepresents any fact in order to obtain workers' compensation insurance at less than the proper rate for that insurance shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor. Any person who has previously been found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this section and who subsequently violates any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class E felony.
7. Any employer who knowingly fails to insure his liability pursuant to this chapter shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor and, in addition, shall be liable to the state of Missouri for a penalty in an amount up to three times the annual premium the employer would have paid had such employer been insured or up to fifty thousand dollars, whichever amount is greater. Any person who has previously been found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this section and who subsequently violates any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class E felony.
8. Any person may file a complaint alleging fraud or noncompliance with this chapter with a legal advisor in the division of workers' compensation. The legal advisor shall refer the complaint to the fraud and noncompliance unit within the division. The unit shall investigate all complaints and present any finding of fraud or noncompliance to the director, who may refer the file to the attorney general. The attorney general may prosecute any fraud or noncompliance associated with this chapter. All costs incurred by the attorney general associated with any investigation and prosecution pursuant to this subsection shall be paid out of the workers' compensation fund. Any fines or penalties levied and received as a result of any prosecution under this section shall be paid to the workers' compensation fund. Any restitution ordered as a part of the judgment shall be paid to the person or persons who were defrauded.
9. Any and all reports, records, tapes, photographs, and similar materials or documentation submitted by any person, including the department of commerce and insurance, to the fraud and noncompliance unit or otherwise obtained by the unit pursuant to this section, used to conduct an investigation for any violation under this chapter, shall be considered confidential and not subject to the requirements of chapter 610. Nothing in this subsection prohibits the fraud and noncompliance unit from releasing records used to conduct an investigation to the local, state, or federal law enforcement authority or federal or state agency conducting an investigation, upon written request.
10. There is hereby established in the division of workers' compensation a fraud and noncompliance administrative unit responsible for investigating incidences of fraud and failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter.
11. Any prosecution for a violation of the provisions of this section or section 287.129 shall be commenced within three years after discovery of the offense by an aggrieved party or by a person who has a legal duty to represent an aggrieved party and who is not a party to the offense. As used in this subsection, the term "person who has a legal duty to represent an aggrieved party" shall mean the attorney general or the prosecuting attorney having jurisdiction to prosecute the action.
12. By January 1, 2006, the attorney general shall forward to the division and the members of the general assembly the first edition of an annual report of the costs of prosecuting fraud and noncompliance under this chapter. The report shall include the number of cases filed with the attorney general by county by the fraud and noncompliance unit, the number of cases prosecuted by county by the attorney general, fines and penalties levied and received, and all incidental costs.
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(L. 1992 H.B. 975, A.L. 1993 S.B. 251, A.L. 1998 H.B. 1237, et al., A.L. 2005 S.B. 1 & 130, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491)
Effective 1-01-17
Structure Missouri Revised Statutes
Title XVIII - Labor and Industrial Relations
Chapter 287 - Workers' Compensation Law
Section 287.010 - Citation of law.
Section 287.020 - Definitions — intent to abrogate earlier case law.
Section 287.030 - Employer defined.
Section 287.040 - Liability of employer — contractors, subcontractors.
Section 287.041 - For-hire motor carrier not an employer of a lessor — definition.
Section 287.043 - Abrogation of case law regarding definition of owner.
Section 287.060 - Employers and employees affected by this act.
Section 287.100 - Legislative intent relative to other laws expressed.
Section 287.110 - Scope of chapter as to injuries and diseases covered.
Section 287.130 - Employer's liability joint and several — contribution allowable.
Section 287.143 - Vocational rehabilitation services, not mandatory — testing and assessment.
Section 287.144 - Definitions.
Section 287.145 - Rehabilitation practitioners, providers, certification of, how.
Section 287.149 - Benefits to be paid, when — reduction of benefits, when.
Section 287.180 - Temporary partial disability, amount to be paid — method of payment.
Section 287.195 - Claims for hernia, proof required.
Section 287.241 - Death benefits, inconsistent with section 287.240, when.
Section 287.253 - Monetary bonus, effect on benefits.
Section 287.260 - Compensation to have priority — not assignable — exceptions.
Section 287.282 - Employee leasing arrangements, coverage required.
Section 287.290 - Employee not to pay cost of insurance.
Section 287.300 - Employer's liability primary or secondary — notice and service, when sufficient.
Section 287.310 - Policies to be approved by department — deductible plans authorized, requirements.
Section 287.340 - Insurance companies must keep reserve.
Section 287.350 - Insurance companies to make report.
Section 287.360 - Director may suspend or revoke permits and ask for a receiver.
Section 287.370 - Compensation in lieu of insurance, how provided.
Section 287.400 - Accident — duty of division — employer.
Section 287.410 - Powers and functions of the division of workers' compensation.
Section 287.420 - Written notice of injury to be given to employer — exceptions.
Section 287.430 - Limitation as to action, exception.
Section 287.440 - Limitation begins to run, when.
Section 287.450 - Failure to agree on compensation — division to hold hearings.
Section 287.470 - Commission may review and change award.
Section 287.480 - Application for review, time limit — when deemed filed — bond required, when.
Section 287.500 - Circuit court may act upon memorandum — procedure.
Section 287.510 - Temporary or partial awards may be made.
Section 287.520 - Notice — manner of serving.
Section 287.530 - Commission or division may commute compensation, when and how.
Section 287.540 - Compensation commuted — funds, how paid out.
Section 287.550 - Proceedings before commission to be informal and summary.
Section 287.570 - Contempt — penalty.
Section 287.580 - Death, pending proceedings — action shall not abate.
Section 287.590 - Division may be sued — official seal.
Section 287.600 - Oath of office.
Section 287.615 - Employees of division — compensation — selection.
Section 287.620 - Attorney general legal adviser.
Section 287.630 - Forms, other material furnished by commission and division.
Section 287.642 - Public information programs, division to establish.
Section 287.650 - Division to make rules and regulations — power to destroy reports, when — rules.
Section 287.655 - Dismissal of claims, when, how, effect.
Section 287.670 - No fees for services of public officers.
Section 287.680 - Annual report to governor.
Section 287.700 - Returns delinquent — duty of director.
Section 287.710 - Tax returns — payments — use of proceeds — funds and interest not to lapse.
Section 287.713 - Director, report of expenditures.
Section 287.717 - Surcharge collection, procedure — failure to pay, interest assessed, when.
Section 287.730 - Employer carrying own risk must pay tax.
Section 287.740 - Compliance with provisions obligatory — penalty for violation.
Section 287.745 - Delinquent taxes, interest, rate — overpayment of taxes, credit.
Section 287.750 - Sufficiency of notice.
Section 287.760 - Insurance carriers exempt from other tax, when.
Section 287.790 - Penalty not specifically provided — misdemeanor.
Section 287.800 - Law to be strictly construed.
Section 287.801 - Review of claims, by whom.
Section 287.804 - Waiver of compensation by employee, procedure.
Section 287.808 - Burden of proof.
Section 287.810 - Change of administrative law judge, procedure, limitations.
Section 287.811 - Discovery in workers' compensation cases, sections not to effect.
Section 287.812 - Definitions.
Section 287.815 - Retirement, age and service qualifications.
Section 287.825 - Death of member before or after retirement — benefits of beneficiaries.
Section 287.830 - Retirement with less than twelve years service — benefits.
Section 287.840 - Practice of law after retirement — restrictions.
Section 287.845 - Administration of retirement system and funds.
Section 287.850 - Life insurance benefits.
Section 287.855 - Disability benefits.
Section 287.867 - Insolvency fund, created — purposes, audit of.
Section 287.872 - Powers and duties of division.
Section 287.877 - Insolvent member, board may determine, how — notice to division, when.
Section 287.880 - Liability, limitation of.
Section 287.882 - Automatic stay of proceedings, when, duration.
Section 287.885 - Limitations on actions.
Section 287.886 - Severability clause.
Section 287.892 - Workers' compensation insurers to report cost data to department.
Section 287.900 - Citation of law — definitions.
Section 287.902 - Missouri employers mutual insurance company, created, powers, purpose.
Section 287.905 - Board, created — members, appointment, qualifications, terms — chairman.
Section 287.910 - Rates, board to determine, how.
Section 287.912 - Investment policy, board to determine — administrator to make investments, how.
Section 287.915 - Agents may sell policies, commissions.
Section 287.930 - Definitions.
Section 287.932 - Act not applicable, when — unfair trade practices, when.
Section 287.945 - Director to monitor degree of competition, purpose.
Section 287.952 - Rate standards in noncompetitive market, factors.
Section 287.957 - Experience rating plan, contents.
Section 287.960 - Disapproval of rate, when, how — procedures, director's powers — effect.
Section 287.970 - Advisory organization not to file rates on behalf of insurer, exception.