SAN BERNARDINO - As part of its ongoing statewide educational program on workers' compensation fraud, State Compensation Insurance Fund held a seminar on May 20, 2005 for San Bernardino County employers. State Fund was joined by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office to inform employers about workers’ compensation fraud. It is estimated that workers’ compensation fraud costs millions of dollars annually, resulting in increased costs for employers and the general economy.

The seminar was entitled, "What Employers Need To Know About Workers' Compensation Fraud," and was held in the San Bernardino Hilton and included presentations from San Bernardino County Lead Deputy District Attorney Tracy Bartell, State Fund Fraud Investigation Program Manager Donna Gallagher and State Fund Government Relations Officer Pat Quintana.

The San Bernardino event is among the free State Fund seminars held throughout the year to educate employers and employees on workers’ compensation insurance fraud issues, which contribute significantly to increased workers’ compensation costs, including employer premiums.

State Fund also participated in a Business Roundtable sponsored by the City of Santa Ana, on May 19th. During the roundtable, business manufacturers were given tips on how to prevent fraud and decrease their workers' compensation costs.

The Roundtable included presentations on fraud and an overview of last year's landmark reform legislation from Pat Quintana, State Fund South Orange County District Office Manager Terry Suss, Insurance Broker, Scott Hauge and Tom Martin, Legislative Chair of the Small Business Manufacturers Association of California.

In addressing the employers, Scott Hauge told the group, "Effectively fighting workers’ compensation fraud requires the cooperation of all parties. I would encourage all employers to feel free to discuss any questions they have with their brokers. A broker can often provide assistance in helping combat fraud by working closely with the carrier."

According to State Fund’s Donna Gallagher, "Insurance fraud is the number two 'white collar' crime in the nation. Everyone has a stake in fighting fraud. We will continue to work with all the system’s stakeholders to prevent fraud and the harm it does to California’s economy."

State Fund’s Fraud Investigation Program (FIP) addresses all aspects of workers’ compensation insurance fraud, including employee, employer, medical and legal. In the last decade, State Fund’s FIP has produced hundreds of arrests and convictions in a wide range of workers’ compensation cases. State Fund has a toll free number - (888) STOPFRAUD - to report suspected fraud.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Created by the California Legislature in 1914, State Fund is a nonprofit, self-supporting, fairly competitive public enterprise that guarantees a permanent workers’ compensation insurance marketplace for California employers.