In connection with falsified accounts in corona test centers, the board of Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KV) Berlin targeted by the police.
A spokesman for the Berlin public prosecutor said on Tuesday that proceedings had been initiated at the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) on suspicion of infidelity. Spiegel TV had previously reported about it. The public prosecutor’s office is still pending an examination of whether there is actually an initial suspicion and against whom this is specifically directed, said spokesman Sebastian Büchner. The KV said: The board rejects the accusation of infidelity “in the strongest possible terms”.
KV Berlin: Did everything to avert damage
The association found out about the procedure at the LKA from the media. “Since we do not know the current situation, KV Berlin cannot comment on this,” said spokeswoman Dörthe Arnold.
“Since the billing of test centers began in spring 2021, KV Berlin has worked closely with the Berlin investigative authorities and has done everything to help uncover fraudulent test center operators and avert damage,” it said. The spokeswoman announced a further statement as soon as more information is available.
Pandemic: KV Berlin is responsible for billing the test centers
KV is also responsible for billing the test centers during the corona pandemic. According to its own statements, KV Berlin has so far (as of June 21) paid out around 590 million euros in tax money. The payment of a further 81 million euros is still under review. 3.5 percent of the amount paid out remains with KV as a profit, said Bettina Gaber from the board of directors in the Spiegel TV report. On Tuesday, the KV said the so-called administrative cost rate was currently 2.5 percent.
“We manage public funds and our pressure to find black sheep is just as there as with other authorities,” Gaber explained in front of the camera. According to the police, there are more than 380 investigations in Berlin alone. According to the Spiegel research, the KV has not informed the police of any cases in which there was a suspicion of fraud. At peak times there were around 1,500 corona test centers in Berlin.
Around 10.5 billion euros were paid to the commercial operators of the rapid test stations nationwide. Investigators assume a fraud sum of at least one billion up to 1.5 billion euros.
