Posted On: May 4, 2007, 8:17 pm CDT

Posted By: Frank Lanzisera DC

Jacquelyn made some interesting points. The idea of offering PIP and med pay as an option would be a good idea if it were required by statute for insurance agents/companies to offer this coverage to their customers. If not done in this manner I would argue that most citizens would not be aware that it was something they could purchase. I continue to remain in favor of the no fault system and feel we can get the majority of fraud out of the system with more oversight. However fraud will still remain even if we switch to a fault type system. Criminals will re-invent the game so to speak. The use of independent medical examinations as part of the current system has helped to curb abuses that occur by a some in the system. Independent medical examinations performed by medical doctors, osteopathic and chiropractic doctors has helped combat fraud by ending overutilization by providers and to identify cases of symptom magnification and outright maligering by injured parties. My experience in this area extends over 20 years. As Senator Mike Bennett stated recently, the fraud measures put in place in 2003 have not had enough time to bear fruit but appear to be working. In his opinion we should not scrap the entire system until we know what has and has not worked. As senator Jones stated we need to combat the small group of bad apples committing fraud and throw them in the slammer. Then there is the subject of hospital fees. Emergency room fees will not come down regardless of a fault or no fault system. They are what they are due to the costs of running these facilities and the increasing costs of medical technology that we have come to expect as health care consumers. Two x-rays of the lumbar spine performed in an ER will run from 500 to 800 dollars in most parts of the state whether you have a fault or no fault system. Compare that with $150 when performed in a private practitioners office such as mine and others. To enact a system where only ER visits are covered would really not do much to decrease medical costs for the initial visits. Those without insurance in a fault state will really be up the proverbial creek without a paddle if they have no otional PIP/med pay coverage. Who will pay the bill in these cases? Current advertisements for Floridians for lower insurance costs make it sound like the at fault party will have to pay immediately. This is misleading in my opinion. Yes the party at fault will have to pay but how long will it take if a lawsuit is involved to recoup these costs? Years, as my experience with the medicolegal system has shown. In closing as health care providers we have a responsibility to our patients and the system to treat injured parties in an efficient, timely manner consistent with standard medical treatment protocols. To do otherwise is to be part of the problem and not the solution. Let's be part of the solution for our communities and state.