On April 19-20, 2010, the PA Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority and the Delaware Valley and Greater Pittsburgh Chapters of the International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU) jointly hosted the 2010 PA Insurance Fraud Conference and Awards Dinner. More than 350 people attended the event at the Eisenhower Hotel & Convention Center in Gettysburg, PA. The conference also featured the 2010 PA Fraud Fighter awards, presented by Ralph Burnham, Executive Director of the IFPA
The following are the highlights from Ralph Burnham’s Awards Dinner presentation:
- The International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU) was formed in 1984 to coordinate fraud fighting efforts, to educate and train investigators, to promote fraud awareness, to ensure the maintenance of high professional standards for investigators, and to support the needed anti-fraud legislation. The following representatives from that organization were introduced:
- David Rioux, IASIU President
- Tom Donahue, President of the Delaware Valley Chapter of IASIU
- Tom Cesario, President of the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter of IASIU
- April 19, 2010 was declared Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Awareness Day by the PA House of Representatives.
- In 1990, legislation was enacted that defined insurance fraud as a felony crime. In 1994, Pennsylvania’s General Assembly enacted a Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Prevention Act ― providing for a section of insurance fraud in the Attorney General’s Office to prosecute those who commit insurance fraud; and creating the IFPA to fund the prosecution and prevention of insurance fraud at state and local levels.
- Two House Representatives, the Honorable Robert W. Godshall (R) and the Honorable Bryan Barbin (D), were introduced at the dinner.
- The Honorable Robert W. Godshall is one of the House’s longest serving members with over 28 years of service given to the citizens of Montgomery County’s 53rd district. He was a sponsor of Pennsylvania’s seminal 1990 and 1994 anti-fraud legislation, and this past year has put forward new legislation to further attack insurance fraud crimes in the areas of homeowners insurance and health care insurance.
- The Honorable Bryan Barbin represents Cambria County’s 71st District. Coming to the House in 2008, he has also tackled Pennsylvania’s insurance fraud problem. This past year he sponsored a bill broadening the definitions of insurance fraud and requiring that health care insurers report suspected health care fraud for criminal prosecution.
- Importantly, seen advancing from the House Insurance Committee with bipartisan support, was a further bill expanding immunity to those investigating fraud to encourage the detection of fraud.
- Insurance fraud is a lie told to steal the benefits of insurance. It is a crime that needlessly increases the costs of insurance for all policyholders and is recognized by Pennsylvania’s General Assembly as a public harm. In the past two years it has been an increased crime problem, with reported fraud increased by 62%.
- On average, each year in Pennsylvania 400-500 people are arrested for insurance fraud. This past year there were 412 arrests reported.
- The majority of those arrests were the direct result of the cooperation and communication exhibited by special investigation units and law enforcement.
- The key message for the evening was partnership – the cooperation and communication that makes the fight against insurance fraud a successful one.
- Click here to learn about the 2010 Fraud Fighter Award Winners.