Posted 02 June 2007 - 10:05 AM
Man sick of ACC tactics
By JOHN GIBB Saturday, 2nd June 2007
Getting things back... Dunedin ACC claimant Bruce Van Essen examines computer records and other possessions recently reclaimed after they were seized by police. PHOTO GERARD O’BRIEN
AFTER four ACC fraud investigations in about 12 years, none resulting in prosecution, Dunedin ACC claimant Bruce Van Essen’s nightmare may finally be nearing an end.
Mr Van Essen (40), who has nerve damage causing disability in both hands and feet, said severe insomnia, repeated head aches and other health problems had also resulted from the strain of the latest lengthy ACC fraud probe.
‘‘This has totally drained me.’’
His mother, Anne Van Essen (71), also shares the family house at Fairfield, where her husband, Tony Van Essen, died in June last year, after being ill for many years.
The latest twoyearlong ACC fraud investigation had also damaged her health, she said.
She had been home alone last September when police, an ACC fraud unit member and a private investigator entered with a search warrant and seized her son’s com puter equipment.
Mr Van Essen, who this week reclaimed from police most of the seized property, said it was timely that ACC had recently announced a review of its fraud unit, includ ing its culture, and operating approach.
ACC review documents noted there had been ‘‘recent public concerns about ACC’s fraud man agement practices’’.
Mr Van Essen, who receives compensation after being injured as a freezing worker in the 1990s, was recently advised by ACC it would once again not be seeking to prosecute.
He would be complaining to ACC and seeking retraction of a warning about potential future prosecution, which had been included in the ACC letter.
Mr Van Essen was also con cerned at apparent poor internal communication within the ACC, with the fraud unit apparently unaware ACC case management had earlier approved his efforts as a parttime voluntary worker, and noted this on his file.
Despite this, fraud investigators had recently probed unpaid computerrelated work he had done for a Dunedin primary school.
A letter from an ACC case manager to Mr Van Essen, dated May last year, states the school work ‘‘has been confirmed of no commercial value, and the activi ties you do there are fully within what we have discussed and agreed is appropriate’’.
Mr Van Essen was also con cerned about an apparent 80% outcomerelated quota for investigations, which had been required by ACC, and was included in an ACC contract with private investigation firm Main land Information Consultants which had made some inquiries on his case.
The contract suggests 80% of referrals made, involving the firm, should result in ‘‘either a prosecution, cessation, suspen sion of entitlement’’ or some other form of ‘‘positive action’’.
Officials at the firm referred the Otago Daily Times to ACC risk and assurance and fraud manager Ernst Le Roux for comment. He said the specific clause of the contract was not appropriate and was being redrafted.
Denise Powell, the president of Acclaim Otago, an ACC claimant support and advocacy group, said it was ‘‘completely unreasonable’ to expect anyone to withstand four fraud inquiries.
Approached for comment, ACC senior media adviser Laurie Edwards said each time Mr Van Essen had been investigated it was after information suggested fraudulent activity might be taking place. A warning had been issued in the latest case, he noted
Asked if the Van Essen case had contributed to the review, Mr Edwards, of Wellington, said it had not been sparked by any particular case but some issues recently brought to the ACC’s attention would be included.
In the year to June 2006, ACC’s fraud team had identified savings of $40 million, including both treatment provider and claimant fraud.
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