Auto Insurance
Back to Home > Thursday, May 04, 2006 Posted on Thu, May. 04, 2006 email this print this A ... Auto bill passes, lacks reform..
A controversial no-fault auto insurance bill without any of the major reforms favored by some lawmakers and the insurance industry cleared the Florida Legislature, but it could face a veto from the governor.
The House of Representatives passed the same bill Wednesday that was approved by the Senate on Tuesday, extending the state's no-fault law to 2009 and providing $1.2 million to beef up the state's auto insurance fraud fighting efforts.
Gov. Jeb Bush has said previously that he's not inclined to sign a bill that just gave the state's no-fault law a few more years of life but contained no significant reforms.
Some of these major reforms that Bush and some insurers would have liked to see in the bill included a cap on doctors' and attorneys' fees and a curb on the use of medical services by accident victims.
If the governor vetoes the bill, and without any further action from the Legislature in a special session later this year or possibly during the 2007 legislative session, the current law expires next October.
In place since 1971, the measure requires motorists to purchase $10,000 worth of no-fault coverage, also known as personal injury protection. Intended to cut down on frivolous lawsuits, insurance companies claim the system is being exploited by fraudsters who stage and fake accidents in collusion with crooked doctors.
Several major insurers, including State Farm and Nationwide, have lobbied hard to eliminate the law, also saying it adds about $200 to $300 to auto insurance premiums.
Healthcare providers generally wanted to keep the no-fault law because of the medical benefits. The Florida Hospital Association was pleased the bill that passed extends the law for three more years.
''That's extremely important when you realize that 1 out of 3 persons involved in auto accidents has no health insurance. When these people are in a crash, usually the only source of payment is no-fault,'' said Ralph Glatfelter, lobbyist for the Florida Hospital Association.
A version of the no-fault bill introduced in the House late last week would have provided an extra $10,000 in coverage for emergency or trauma center care for accident victims. It also contained a cap on medical fees and restricted attorneys' fees. However, it was never debated on the House floor.
When the Senate version of the auto insurance bill came up in the House Wednesday, there was no debate on the floor. The final vote was 118 to 1 with Rep. Don Brown, R-DeFuniak Springs, voting against the measure.
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