MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama's cash-strapped government could soon have nearly $5 million it wasn't expecting.
A state law enacted in 2011 lets the state government pursue recovery audits for money overpaid or paid in error to companies that do work for the state.
The law's sponsor, Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, says the first claim involving the health insurance company Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama is nearly complete and it has turned up more than $4.8 million that should be repaid to the state.
A Blue Cross vice president says the company has provided all information requested but has not yet received a completed audit report or been asked for reimbursement.
Marsh predicts that future audits of other state payments will turn up tens of millions more.
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