IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2007

Hospitals Pass Resolution Asking Governor Crist
 to Call Special Session on PIP

Tallahassee – The Florida Hospital Association (FHA) Board of Trustees recently adopted a resolution asking Governor Crist to call the Legislature into a Special Session on no-fault automobile insurance (personal injury protection - PIP) before it expires on October 1, 2007.  The resolution raises many points related to the health and safety of all Floridians including the fact that more than four million Floridians have no other motor vehicle insurance coverage besides PIP and property damage liability.  Furthermore, 40 percent of all patients treated for motor vehicle crashes in Florida’s hospital emergency rooms and trauma centers have no health insurance coverage to pay for necessary medical care other than PIP.  Florida could be, on October 1, the only state in the nation with no mandatory automobile insurance coverage.

“We believe Governor Crist understands the potential public health crisis the loss of PIP could have on our state, including the negative impact on trauma centers and the availability of physicians,” said Jim Nathan, President, Lee Memorial Health System, Inc., and Chair of the FHA Board of Trustees.  “Virtually all of the our state’s newspaper editorial boards have clearly stated that PIP should not be allowed to sunset, leaving hospitals and the general public at great risk if involved in a motor vehicle crash.  It is essential that our state’s elected leadership come to the same conclusion before October 1,” said Nathan.

Hospitals and our physicians, unlike all others who provide medical services to motor vehicle crash victims, share the greatest financial burden for the loss of PIP.  A membership survey conducted by FHA found that hospitals were reimbursed $350 million by auto insurance carriers in 2005.  These costs will continue to be incurred as people are involved in motor vehicle crashes, but they will either be shifted to health insurers, Medicaid, Medicare, or to the bottom lines of hospitals in the form of increased bad debts and charity care.

FHA has consistently advocated for the continuation of PIP or enactment of an acceptable form of alternative coverage.  Last year alone, Florida’s hospitals provided more than $2 billion in free care to Florida’s uninsured and treated more than 115,000 patients injured in motor vehicle crashes.

The Florida Hospital Association is a Tallahassee-based association representing the interests of Florida’s hospital community.

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Click [HERE] to download resolution and letter to Governor Crist