Fw: [aca-members] FL no fault and fraud allegations

[Guest guest]

Dear Colleagues,

This is why if you indeed suspect fraud that a claimant/patient(s) are

possibly acting fraudulently you must keep your eyes and ears open and

report any such activity.

Vern Saboe

[aca-members] FL no fault and fraud allegations

> From the College on Forensic Sciences

> (CFS:http://www.forensic-sciences.org)

>

>

> No-fault auto insurance, plagued by fraud, may expire

>

> By Horvath

>

<http://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/content/business/epaper/2006/01/13/ma

ilto:stephanie_horvath@...>

>

> Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

>

> Friday, January 13, 2006

>

> Florida's system of paying for medical care after a car accident will

> disappear unless lawmakers act this year.

>

> Florida's no-fault automobile insurance law, which has been in place

> since the 1970s and has been beset by fraud, will sunset unless the

> legislature renews it. With the deadline looming, the House and Senate

> insurance committees both met this week to hash out its pros and cons.

>

>

>

> Under the current system, car accident victims get a guaranteed $10,000

> in medical, disability and death benefits, in return limiting their

> right to sue for noneconomic damages like pain and suffering.

>

> The idea is to get accident victims quick medical care, avoid lawsuits

> that can clog up the courts and reduce auto insurance prices.

>

> All Florida drivers must purchase at least $10,000 in personal injury

> protection, or PIP, coverage.

>

> But rampant fraud and abuse led legislators to enact reforms in 2001 and

> 2003, and finally to vote to repeal the no-fault law on Oct. 1, 2007,

> unless it was renewed this year.

>

> Most health care and attorney groups want to keep the no-fault system,

> but the insurance industry is split on the issue.

>

> Some, like State Farm, Florida's largest insurer, want to let the law

> sunset, while others, like Progressive, want to renew it with changes

> that they say would close loopholes.

>

> " The majority of companies are split 50-50 on whether we should repeal

> no-fault or keep it, " said Sam , vice president of the Florida

> Insurance Council. " Some companies are afraid going back to tort would

> be worse than what we have now. "

>

> So far the legislative committees have not taken any action.

>

> Sen. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, has introduced a bill that contains

> tougher penalties for drivers and licensed professionals convicted of

> fraud and that allocates money to hire more state prosecutors who

> specialize in insurance fraud. Similar bills have been filed in the House.

>

> To clamp down on auto fraud, some insurers want the no-fault law to set

> fees for medical care and to restrict attorney's fees.

>

> But doctors and attorneys say such measures will make it harder for

> genuine accident victims to see a doctor or have their day in court.

>

> Much of the fraud is perpetrated by medical clinics that seek out people

> on accident reports and run up charges for unnecessary treatments or

> ones they don't perform.

>

> Many of those clinics are in South Florida, which is home to 65 percent

> of the state's licensed clinics.

>

> " We know clinics are behind a lot of the fraud if not most of the

> fraud, " , the director of the state Division of Insurance

> Fraud, told House members Tuesday.

>

> Staged accidents are also a problem, said. People buy old cars

> and crash them, create " paper accidents " by falsifying documents or

> intentionally cause accidents involving unsuspecting drivers.

>

> Fraud raises insurance rates. According to a Senate report, Florida saw

> auto insurance prices climb between 1999 and 2003, but they dropped or

> increased very little over the last two years.

>

> " I think it's going to be important to get information from the carriers

> as to the costs, " said Sen. Walter " Skip " , D-Tamarac. " We want

> our constituents to be able to buy car insurance. "

>

> PIP fraud referrals to the Division of Insurance Fraud have increased

> 327 percent in the last three years, told the House and Senate

> insurance committees this week.

>

> He attributed some of that growth to a better reporting system.

>

> " It's not that the problem is going away, " told the House panel.

> " It's getting worse or we're getting better at policing it. "

>

>

> --

>

>

> Warren T. Jahn, DC, MPS, FACO, DACBSP, DABFP

> Board Certified Chiropractic Orthopedist and Sports Physician

> Forensic Examiner

>

> Roswell GA 30076

> 770-740-1999

> 770-619-3203 fax

>

> " The mediocre teacher tells.

> The good teacher explains.

> The superior teacher demonstrates.

> The great teacher inspires. " - Arthur Ward

>

>

> For information on the College on Forensic Sciences (CFS) go to

> http://www.forensic-sciences.org or call 770-740-1999

>

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