Legislators May Tackle PIP Reform In Special Session
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) – With less than two days to go before the end of the legislative session in Tallahassee, the prospect of achieving 'personal injury protection' (PIP) reform doesn't seem to be in the cards.
But it may come back – in a special session.
On Wednesday, the Senate passed its passed its no-fault automobile insurance bill without debate, sending its package to the House where it is expected to get a chilly reception.
The Senate passed SB 1860 after replacing it with the House version and tacking on several changes made a day earlier during sometimes feisty debate. The House could take up the measure (HB 119) as early as Thursday, but sponsors say they won't rush the product just to comply with the Friday deadline. Instead, a growing list of leaders have said they are comfortable with returning after the rush of the session's final days and dealing with the contentious issue on its own.
With a special session required if the Florida Supreme Court rejects some or all of the Legislature's new political boundary maps, leaders in both chambers said one more special session to deal with personal injury protection won't hurt.
"If it's not a good bill, and not a bill that makes a difference, I would be fine with recommending to the governor we come back, that he veto the dad gum thing, and we come back," said Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine.
The chambers differ significantly on their approaches to PIP, the $10,000 medical coverage put in place in the 1970s to treat crash victim injuries regardless of which party caused the accident.
State officials and the insurance industry say that the coverage is wrought with fraud and misuse, a combination they say is costing taxpayers $1 billion a year in additional premiums.
The House plan places caps on attorney fees and funnels patients into emergency rooms for the bulk of their emergency care. Amendments to the House plan allow for private physician visits but limit the coverage to $2,500. Chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists and other non-MDs are barred for collecting payments from the program.
"We want to pass a PIP bill, we have a strong bill, but I also understand we have a bicameral Legislature," said Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.
The Senate has largely ignored attorney caps and has allowed patients to be treated by their private physicians. The plan also places stricter licensing requirements on clinics and tries to settle the most frequent lawsuit issues by defining legal terms and coverage parameters.
The Senate plan has gotten a lukewarm reception from Senate President Mike Haridopolos, Gov. Rick Scott and others who favor more stringent efforts to cut costs.
The House sponsor said Wednesday evening that he's had little time to review the latest version of the legislation passed by the Senate, but Rep. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, said he's still hopeful a deal can be reached in the next few days.
"Those are decisions above me," Boyd said of the potential of special session. "The clock is ticking but I hope we can come to some conclusions ahead of time to try to get the work done that we were sent up here to do. But I'm not making those calls."
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
