County Seeks Repayment of Physician Expenses
Kern County supervisors on Tuesday suspended public discussion of a county auditor's report that claims several Kern Medical Center physicians were overpaid $317,737 under a contract with the county signed in January 2005, the Bakersfield Californian reports. County Auditor-Controller Ann Barnett released the report on Thursday.
The report says the signed contract prohibited physicians from overpaying for private practice or their medical group, the Kern Women's Health Group. However, the audit report noted that doctors charged the county regardless of the guidelines.
The physicians' attorney told the supervisors that $141,376 of the expenses is in a trust fund waiting to be claimed by the county. Cindy Lighthill, fund administrator, confirmed that the county controls the fund.
The physicians also said the report falsely claims that they owe the remaining $176,361.
Ron Errea, county administrative officer, said that the county hopes to present a solution by Dec. 19 (Burger, Bakersfield Californian, 12/12).