PIP Gets New lease on Life
Posted by
Courtney MillsSeptember 25, 2007 3:36 PMLast week Friday Governor Charlie Christ's representatives met in closed session with lobbyists from hospitals, trial lawyers, and auto insurance companies, in an effort to save PIP. A counselor to the governor told the men that a compromise had been reached between the House and Senate to save No-Fault.
According to original reporting in the Palm Beach Post, Christopher Kise, counselor and insurance point-man to the governor, told lobbyists that he was 90% confident that Christ would support the proposal to retain no-fault. According to Kise, the Florida state CFO Alex Sink had recently stepped up efforts to rescue PIP.
No more required PIP for drivers means that drivers will no longer automatically have medical coverage for auto accident injuries. Big insurance insists that no more mandatory PIP would save millions of dollars annually in auto insurance costs and reduce medical overtreatment. Maybe, but drivers would be without their accident injury protection.
An interest group representing two large Florida insurance companies promptly issued a blistering condemnation of the governor's deal. "This proposal doesn't fix anything. It makes the problem worse and more expensive for drivers," said Allison North Jones, spokeswoman for the organization. "The various stakeholders can talk all they want about potential deals, but lawmakers need to focus on what's best for their constituents."
Lawmakers have not met finally to discuss PIP, although they plan to meet in a special legislative session next week on Thursday and Friday in order to keep PIP in effect.
For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.