BUFFALO, N.Y. — The New York State Department of Labor has opened an inquiry into a major Western New York cancer treatment provider, following accusations that the company failed to pay employees after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Four employees of CCS Oncology told 2 On Your Side that they have not received paychecks since late March, when FBI agents raided the company's facilities amid a Medicare fraud investigation.
Yvette Mancini, who worked at CCS Health Care Pulmonary for almost two years before finding a new job this month, said the company owes her five weeks of pay.
That's about $2,000.
"Just because I found a new job doesn't mean I don't want the money that I worked for," Mancini said. "How am I going to pay for my house renovations? My car payment? How am I gonna pay for my utilities and all my credit cards? Where am I gonna get that money from?"
Mancini said she's been advised to file an unpaid wage claim with the Department of Labor. It's unclear exactly how many employees at CCS Oncology have lost earnings, but even doctors haven't been paid, according to Mancini.
Cullen Burnell, a spokesperson for the Department of Labor, confirmed that a state investigation is underway.
"DOL has received a complaint about this business and has opened an inquiry. I can't comment further at this time," he said in an email to 2 On Your Side.
Mancini said her first paycheck following the FBI raid initially cleared into her bank account, but not for long. Two days later, it was withdrawn. A Twitter user reported that his mother, a CCS employee, experienced a similar situation.
Two attorneys affiliated with CCS Oncology and its bankruptcy protection filing did not return messages seeking comment on Friday.
"All you want to do is cry, but all you do is laugh," Mancini said. "Because if you cry, they're winning."
Company leadership held two conference calls earlier this week, according to Mancini, but it still didn't answer all of the employees' questions.
"It's just been mayhem, absolute mayhem," she said, "because nobody knows what to do."
CCS Oncology won't be around much longer, though. The company informed patients it would shut down next Friday, which means patients will have to transfer to Roswell Park or other health care providers.
Roswell Park's Amherst Center is holding a forum on Monday at 6:30 p.m. for prospective patients who need assistance.