Tag Archives: Rick Scott

Florida’s new PIP/No-Fault Law was signed today by Governor Rick Scott.  From the press release from Florida CFO Jeff Atwater’s office about the new PIP law:

A report released in November by Insurance Consumer Advocate (ICA) Robin Westcott, appointed by CFO Atwater, highlighted the need for reforms through concrete and meaningful data.  According to the ICA’s report, the frequency of crashes declined 12 percent between 2005 to 2010 while the payment on PIP claims increased 66 percent during the same period.

“With the signing of this bill today, Florida will release the chokehold that fraud has on Florida’s insurance consumers. I commend Gov. Scott for signing this important piece of legislation and for his tireless work to ensure that we pass significant reforms to protect our fellow Floridians.

“The road to reform was a long and challenging one. Rep. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) and Sen. Joe Negron (R-Stuart) were both vital to the success of these reforms. I congratulate these leaders and the entire Florida Legislature today for recognizing that consumers no longer can afford inaction on PIP. I’m eager to start seeing the positive impacts of this bill in the form of future rate relief for Florida’s consumers.”

Part of the new PIP law takes effect July 1, 2012.  The entire law takes effect January 1, 2013.

The full press release is available here.

According to Florida House sponsor Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton , and his Senate counterpart Joe Negron, R-Stuart, the new PIP law is expected to be signed by Governor Rick Scott tomorrow despite recent reports on the potential six month gap resulting from the July 1, 2012 and January 1, 2013 effective dates. Boyd and Negron report that any potential gap would be clarified through agency rulemaking or an executive order. “I think the legislative intent is clear,” Negron said.

According to the News Press report on the issue:

Jack McDermott, spokesman for the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, said the agency expects few if any glitches in payments to providers.

Just in case, the Agency for Health Care Administration, which licenses health providers, is drafting language to clarify that payments to qualified providers will continue to flow. “The purpose of the bill was not to create a six month gap,” McDermott said. “AHCA has publicly said they are going to issue rules to clear this up. We’ve encouraged insurers privately that PIP providers should be paid.”

On reports that Governor Scott may not sign the bill due to the potential gap:, Florida House sponsor Boyd stated: “If it comes to that I think there will be an agency rule to make it clear what we’re doing, but I don’t think it is going to come to that.”

The full article is available here.