Department of Workforce Development

June 27, 1996

Learn how to fight worker's comp fraud

Ways for employers and others to detect and prevent worker's compensation fraud is the
topic of a two-hour audioconference being held statewide July 12.

"Practical Advice on Abusive WC Claims" is the second in a continuing series of
once-a-month programs in a state agency's "Friday Fundamentals" educational series on
ETN.

ETN is the state's Educational Teleconference Network operated by the University of
Wisconsin Extension, with at least one site in every county.

"Most of Wisconsin's 73,000 lost-time claims filed under the state's job injury
compensation law are made and handled in good faith," says Gregory Krohm, state
worker's compensation administrator in the Department of Workforce Development
(DWD) and the July 12 ETN presenter.

"However, a few fraudulent or abusive claims made by workers or sometimes by
employers consume a disproportionate amount of time, energy and claim dollars.

"This ETN program is aimed at helping employers, insurance companies and other identify
and prevent abusive claims, or at least minimize the harm they do if they aren't detected
immediately.

"It will stress principles of accident reporting and investigation, follow up and
investigation, and how to deal with the insurer when investigating and defending against
bad claims."

The program will be held from 1 to 2:50 p.m. Those attending this or any of the "Friday
Fundamentals" classes go to a participating ETN site in their area and listen to the
speaker, usually located in Madison, who is connected by telephone lines and whose voice
is amplified on loudspeakers at each site. Attendees also can use microphones at each
location to ask questions of the speaker throughout the program.

Those who register at least a week in advance will receive speaker-prepared handouts in
the mail before the class, while the printed material otherwise will be mailed to late
registrants as soon as those registrations are received.

Anyone may attend this or other programs in the "Friday Fundamentals" series by
registering. The fee for each session is $20, including handouts. Before registering,
confirm with the ETN site you intend to use whether it will be participating in this program.
Most, but not all, do.

To find the site nearest you or to register for this or any class in the series, contact the
ETN Registration Office, 337 Wisconsin Center, 702 Langdon St., Madison, WI 53706,
608/262-0810. Make checks payable to UW Extension.

For a brochure listing all classes in the series or for more information about the programs
or payment and refund procedures, contact DWD Communcations and Education Services
at P.O. Box 7946, Madison, WI 53707, fax 608/264-8786, or call 608/264-6810.

The Aug. 16 topic will be "Preparing for Fair Employment Hearings."