California DOI Awards $34.9M To Help Fight Workers’ Comp Fraud
The California Department of Insurance has awarded $34.95 million in grants to district attorney offices across the state to help fight workers' compensation insurance fraud, the Gilroy Patch reports (Schena, Gilroy Patch, 8/7).
Details of Grants
The grants were funded by employer fees. The money aims to help law enforcement officials investigate and prosecute fraud in the workers' compensation system during fiscal year 2015-2016.
To receive money, district attorneys were required to apply for a grant (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 8/7). Applications were examined by DOI's review panel, and award recommendations were sent to and approved by the California Fraud Assessment Commission.
Thirty-seven district attorneys, representing 42 counties in the state, received grants.
The district attorney offices that received the most money were in:
- Los Angeles County, which received about $6.4 million; and
- San Diego County, which received about $4.9 million.
The district attorney offices that received the smallest grants were in:
- Siskiyou County, which received $52,992; and
- San Luis Obispo County, which received $54,419.
In a release, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones (D) said, "These grants will assist district attorneys across the state in uncovering workers' compensation fraud schemes and prosecuting those who take advantage of the system" (DOI release, 8/5).
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