SAN DIEGO -- Several doctors in San Diego told the 10News I-Team that the state of California has overpaid them for health care costs, but refuses to take the money back.

Dr. Farideh Razai is a clinical psychologist in San Diego. While many of her patients cannot afford health insurance, she sees them anyway. She is paid by the state and reimbursed by Medi-Cal.

However, two months ago the state began sending her checks for care she already provided.

"Two months ago you just started getting these checks?" asked I-Team reporter Mitch Blacher.

"Yeah, out of nowhere," said Razai.

"You thought it was Christmas?" asked Blacher.

"I wish," said Razai.

"So, they sent you 30-thousand dollars extra?"

"Yes."

"Isn't that money that could go toward someone else's care?"

"Tell me about it."

The I-Team learned in the last two months the state sent Razai checks worth a total of more than $30,000. She sent back letter after letter explaining the money was sent by mistake and that the money would stay in a savings account until the state would take it back.

Medi-Cal officials sent back letters that said, "Your correspondence has been received."

"I have $30,000 in an account I cannot touch, and I'm trying to find out how to turn it over to the state because it does not belong to me," said Razai.

The I-Team found last year the government sent $20 billion toward Medi-Cal -- all toward Sacramento so people could keep coming to some clinics when they couldn't afford insurance on their own.

The I-Team called Sacramento to find out how they're keeping track of those funds, and the Department of Health Care Services provided the following response:

"Medi-Cal works hard to ensure that valuable state funds are used in the most effective manner, and we would like to address this issue as we do all others -- as quickly as possible."

The state sent the I-Team specific instructions on how to return the money. The state also has an entire department called "audits and investigations" to track misplaced money.

In this case, the state sent money to someone willing to give it back -- a doctor who said she won't touch a cent because someone else needs it more.

"This money, right now at this point, can help a needy person someplace, a family, especially in this critical time," said Razai.

Several doctors the I-Team talked to question how deep the problem goes.