The Florida House Economic Affairs Committee has advancedlegislation to reform the state's no-fault Personal InjuryProtection (PIP) program.

The bill, HB 119, now heads tothe floor of the Florida House with less than two weeks left in thestate-legislative session. According to the Florida InsuranceCouncil, the bill needs to be merged with a Senate package, SB1860, which comes before the Senate Budget Committee next week.

The House bill replaces the mandatory PIP no-fault insurancecoverage with “emergency care coverage.”

HB 119, among many things, would change the way accident reportsare taken; provide coverage limits; establish a schedule of maximumcharges; create a list of diagnostic tests deemed not to bemedically necessary; and control attorneys' fees.

To be eligible for medical-care coverage benefits, victims ofaccidents must seek treatment within 72 hours of the accident.

Put the Brakes on Accident Fraud, a coalition ofFlorida consumers, business leaders, law-enforcement officials andothers says the measure is “a step in the right direction forcracking down on PIP fraud in Florida.”

For years the insurance industry has allegedfraud by the state's health-care clinics, adding that organizedstaged-accident rings take advantage of holes in the system.

Gov. Rick Scott and state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwaterhave outlined foursteps to reform the no-fault law (enacted in the early 1970s),which requires drivers to have PIP that provides $10,000 incoverage per person for medical bills, regardless of fault in anaccident.

Up to $10,000 of medical benefits remain available to peoplediagnosed with an emergency medical condition—but HB 119 limitsreimbursement for non-emergency injuries.

Medical benefits of $1,500 are available to those who go to theemergency room and do not have a diagnosed emergency medicalcondition or to those who go to another medical doctor—such as adentist, physician assistant, osteopathic physician or advancedregistered nurse practitioner—in a timely manner.