Extension sought for PIP insurance
BY BEATRICE E. GARCIA
The House Democrats are asking Gov. Charlie Crist to include a one-year extension of the state's controversial no-fault auto insurance law in the special session next month on property tax reform.
The no-fault insurance law, which requires drivers to buy $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 in property damage coverage, is set to expire Oct. 1. No bill to extend or reform the no-fault law was approved during the legislative session that ended three weeks ago, although there were several proposals.
Democratic leaders as well as many hospitals and healthcare providers are worried about the impact of letting the no-fault law expire.
In Florida, about 40 percent of auto accident victims treated in emergency rooms and trauma centers have no benefits other than those provided by the no-fault law, lawmakers said.

`UNTENABLE'

''We believe allowing no-fault insurance to sunset -- without truly evaluating the ramifications -- is untenable,'' wrote Rep. Dan Gelber, a Democrat from Miami Beach, in a letter to the governor delivered Wednesday. Gelber is the House Democratic leader this year.
The letter, co-signed by Joyce Cusack, House Democratic Leader pro tempore, points out that quick action on a no-fault extension wouldn't detract from the legislators' work on property tax issues.
''A one-year extension would give us the opportunity to complete a full examination and make a well-informed determination next year whether PIP should be renewed, reformed or allowed to expire,'' they said.
A spokesman for Crist said the governor received the letter, but he remains focused on working on a solution to provide property tax relieve to Florida residents. However, no decision has been made to include, or not include, some discussion of the no-fault law in the special session next month.
The governor and legislative leaders have been getting an earful this week about extending PIP.
Prominent lobbyist Ron Book, who represents Jackson Memorial Hospital and the South Broward Hospital District, was up in Tallahassee pushing for at least an extension.
He said hospitals will end up ''pennies on the dollar'' if they have to rely on health insurers to cover medical bills for auto accident victims. That's because their coverage isn't as extensive as what PIP provides or they could end up in court to litigate unpaid bills.
Also, four Miami-Dade hospitals -- Baptist, Jackson, Mercy and Mt. Sinai -- met with House Speaker Marco Rubio to push for the extension of the no-fault law.

INSURERS LOBBY

Major insurers, including State Farm and Allstate Floridian, have been lobbying strongly to let the law expire, claiming the required medical coverage is redundant for drivers who have health insurance.
Eliminating the requirement for this coverage could save them money.
These insurers contend the guaranteed medical coverage in the no-fault law breeds fraud, where some medical providers bill for unnecessary treatments or accidents are staged to run up doctor bills.



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