The State - News from Oct. 7, 1985

Keeping a sharp eye on Medi-Cal records for overpayments and third-party liability saved taxpayers more than $38 million last year, state Health Director Kenneth Kizer said. The Medi-Cal Recovery Branch of the Department of Health Services found 54,235 cases in which either the providers or the beneficiaries were paid too much, or third parties were liable for bills. In some cases, providers like doctors, hospitals and pharmacies overstated costs or charges. In others, the beneficiaries presented false information understating income or property values when applying for benefits, Kizer said. Nearly $4.5 billion a year in state and federal funds are paid to California’s 2.8 million Medi-Cal beneficiaries.