TTC CEO Andy Byford issued the following notice to all TTC employees regarding an alleged benefits fraud and ensuing criminal charges that have been laid against a health care service provider. As the police investigation continues, and with an internal TTC investigation now underway, the TTC will provide no further comment.
Dear TTC colleagues.
It is with concern that I write to make you aware Of an alleged fraud against the TTCS employee benefit plan involving a Toronto-based health care provider, Toron+o police have laid
several criminal charges against the owner of Healthy Fit. which has provided health care
products and services to some TTC employees and, possibly, their dependents.
It is alleged that receipts were provided fo individuals by Healthy Fit for claim reimbursemenf where no product or service was obtained or where receipt amounts were inflated. It is further alleged that the health care provider and the person making the claim would then share the money paid out by the TTC s insurer. Manulife Financial, for these improper and fraudulent claims.
Effective immediately, any Healthy Fit claims made recently. or ih the future, will be rejected
This matter was brought to the1TCs affention via fhe Integrity line. The Integrify line allows for information to be provided fo ITC inves+igators. anonymously ff the person wishes. for investigation. At the time of Integrity's introduction two years ago. some criticized it, suggesting it was waste of resources. The fact is the Integrity line continues to demonstrate ifs value as
another *ool in our efforts fo stamp out wrongdoing by any employee, contractor or service
provider. It works and it is here to stay.
When the TTC received information related to this alleged scheme. it immediately advised Manulife. They. in turn, launched their own investigation. which. ultimately, led to the involvement of Toronto police,
The TTC takes. very seriously. fhe responsibility placed on it to protect public money. While there iS no evidence today linking TTC employees or their dependentsåo any crime, an internal investigation has now been launched. and no stone will be left unturned. The police
investigation also continues.
If. through these investigations. an employee is found to have been party to this alleged fraud
'*hey will face serious consequences. up +0 and including criminal charges and/or termination of employment. Furthermore. the TTC will seek full restitution from anyone found to have
defrauded the organization and. ultimately. the public.
Benefits fraud and abuse is a serious, Industry-wide problem that goes far beyond the
NeveHheless. I have asked our own staff to reach out to the benefits industry and work wifh it in any way we can — to either support or lead these efforts — to improve fraud prevention and defection.
Il am also asking for an infernal review of our benefits program, including options like requiring pre-approved or preferred suppliers for the unregulated medical device industry. all in an
effort to further strengthen the many controls already in place Ot the TTC to protect public money.
The vast majority of you, including your dependents who rely on the ITC's generous benefits program. demonstrate integrity day in -and day out and would never consider engaging in
benefits fraud. As a team. we havesvorked hard to improve both our core service of delivering a safe and reliable transit system and our collective reputation. The TTC's internal investigation,
and the ongoing police inquiry. will ensure those found 'in breach of the law, as well as those who have breached ITC policy. are held to account.
Thank 'you for reading this imporFant communique. am determined that ethical behaviour and integrity become ingrained in our culture, and that wrongdoing — by even just a few — is
eliminated in its entirety. Public trust in us has never been more critical as we seek to modernize
