Florida Gov. Scott Talks Insurance Fraud in State of State Speech
In a half-hour speech before the legislature, Scott said he is “open to any idea from whatever source that is likely to improve the lives of Floridian.” He even went as far as saying he listens to “my close friends in the media.”
. On the insurance front, Scott confined his remarks to reforming automobile personal injury protection insurance, where he said fraud and abuse are estimated to cost Floridians $900 million.
“These costs are being driven up every day all along around the state by scams that are ultimately paid for by Florida’s workers’ families,” said Scott. “It is the consumers in our state that we must protect, not trial lawyers or those involved in these schemes. Floridians cannot afford another year of this fraud and abuse or the cost that will come with it.”
Absent from Scott’s comments was any mention of Citizens, which has been a central topic over the past year. The governor has floated proposals calling for the privatizing of the state-run insurer and has been seeking ways to make it less competitive with the private market.
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Lets see if the Gov Scott makes good on his promises>
On the same subject look slike our legislature is making an effort to curb the rising cost of Florida auto insurance.
“These costs are being driven up every day all along around the state by scams that are ultimately paid for by Florida’s workers’ families,” said Scott. “It is the consumers in our state that we must protect, not trial lawyers or those involved in these schemes. Floridians cannot afford another year of this fraud and abuse or the cost that will come with it.”
Absent from Scott’s comments was any mention of Citizens, which has been a central topic over the past year. The governor has floated proposals calling for the privatizing of the state-run insurer and has been seeking ways to make it less competitive with the private market.
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Lets see if the Gov Scott makes good on his promises>
On the same subject look slike our legislature is making an effort to curb the rising cost of Florida auto insurance.
Florida Lawmakers File Bills to Address Auto Insurance PIP Fraud
Negron’s bill (SB 1860) targets fraud issues that have resulted in skyrocketing premiums in some metropolitan areas of Florida. Some estimates say the fraud costs Floridians $1 billion annually. In some neighborhoods in the Tampa Bay area and South Florida, the coverage can add several hundred dollars annually to auto insurance premiums, a cost that’s almost entirely the result of rampant fraud.
. Two PIP proposals (HB 119 and HB 523) were filed by House members in November.
With so many stakeholders involved, lawmakers have been unsuccessful over the past 15 years in finding a fix for the PIP problem. Trial lawyers, insurance companies and a variety of health care providers are among those trying to recover some of their costs covered in car injuries.
Negron, R-Stuart, wants to close the licensure loophole that currently exists for clinics and establish a fee schedule for reimbursements. It would also modernize the current system for bill payment. His measure also would give hospitals priority standing in PIP claims. Hospitals are typically the first to provide care after an automobile accident.
Reforming the state’s PIP insurance is also one of Gov. Rick Scott’s key goals for the upcoming legislative session that began Tuesday.
Just last week, state officials said a recent investigation in Miami-Dade County alone uncovered regulatory violations in 43 of 49 pain clinics, where virtually all of their business was treating automobile accident victims. However, during those checks, investigators witnessed only 17 patients while employees at some clinics reported they had never seen a patient.
PIP was adopted in 1972 to provide benefits in a timely manner for a person injured in an automobile accident regardless of who was at fault, but schemers have turned Florida into the No. 1 state for staged accidents. The legislation provides that a driver’s insurance company pay up to $10,000 to cover medical bills and lost wages after an accident.
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With so many stakeholders involved, lawmakers have been unsuccessful over the past 15 years in finding a fix for the PIP problem. Trial lawyers, insurance companies and a variety of health care providers are among those trying to recover some of their costs covered in car injuries.
Negron, R-Stuart, wants to close the licensure loophole that currently exists for clinics and establish a fee schedule for reimbursements. It would also modernize the current system for bill payment. His measure also would give hospitals priority standing in PIP claims. Hospitals are typically the first to provide care after an automobile accident.
Reforming the state’s PIP insurance is also one of Gov. Rick Scott’s key goals for the upcoming legislative session that began Tuesday.
Just last week, state officials said a recent investigation in Miami-Dade County alone uncovered regulatory violations in 43 of 49 pain clinics, where virtually all of their business was treating automobile accident victims. However, during those checks, investigators witnessed only 17 patients while employees at some clinics reported they had never seen a patient.
PIP was adopted in 1972 to provide benefits in a timely manner for a person injured in an automobile accident regardless of who was at fault, but schemers have turned Florida into the No. 1 state for staged accidents. The legislation provides that a driver’s insurance company pay up to $10,000 to cover medical bills and lost wages after an accident.
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