Background
The Member submitted two claims for orthopedic footwear to her employer’s employee group benefit plan between 2015 and 2016. The Member was reimbursed $500.00 for the footwear, which was a regular pair of unmodified shoes.
The College alleged that the Member committed professional misconduct by submitting false claims to her employer’s benefit plan and/or accepting payment for false claims. The Member denied the allegations. The Member testified that she believed the footwear was orthopedic and eligible for reimbursement because she had been assessed by a Registered Chiropodist who recommended and prescribed each of the products.
Discipline Committee’s Findings
A panel of the Discipline Committee of the College of Nurses of Ontario (the “Panel”) dismissed the allegations against the Member and made no findings of professional misconduct. In reasonably relying on the experience and knowledge of a Registered Chiropodist, the Panel found that the Member made an honest mistake.
The Panel cautioned nurses about the disturbing trend of benefit plan misuse and recommended that nurses exercise extra caution when claiming expenses through employee benefit plans.