FPCA Auto Division: Representative Nelson To File Insurance Anti-Fraud Bill; FPCA Member Feedback Needed By January 22

The Florida Property Casualty Association (“FPCA”) has been advised that State Representative Bryan Nelson is seeking insurance industry input to assist in compiling a 2010 bill that would combat Personal Injury Protection (“PIP”) fraud through clinic regulation. 

Rather than altering Florida’s PIP statutes through his bill, Representative Nelson would like to focus on creating additional restrictions or penalties for PIP-related clinics, as well as creating mechanisms to fund new PIP fraud investigators and prosecutors. 

Representative Nelson also has suggested adding substantial fines or penalties for clinic owners or personnel who self-refer clients or abuse PIP in other ways.  These fines then would be placed in a trust fund, which be used to fund the fraud investigators and prosecutors.

Legislative proposals are needed from FPCA Members on improving the methodology for identifying medical clinics that commit abuse or fraud and prosecuting unscrupulous clinic employees and owners more effectively.

Any legislative proposals presented by the FPCA to Representative Nelson should relate to the regulation of clinics, rather than directly to PIP fraud laws.

In order for FPCA Member feedback to be considered for inclusion in Representative Nelson’s bill, all suggestions for legislative proposals must be sent to Katie Webb at kwebb@cftlaw.com by 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 22, 2010.