STEARNS NOTES THREAT TO STATE'S EMERGENCY TRAUMA CARE SYSTEM, WHICH IS FUNDED LARGELY THROUGH PIP

Washington, Aug 23, 2007 - Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Sixth) today urged Governor Crist to add the sunset of Florida's mandatory No-Fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) law to the September Special Session of the Florida Legislature. In a letter to the Governor, Stearns wrote: "Allowing the PIP law to sunset creates the potential for a community health crisis that will impact all Floridians and threaten Florida's fragile trauma care system. This insurance is the only coverage available (without the need to pursue litigation) to pay for emergency and other medical treatment after an auto accident for a growing number of Floridians without health insurance."

The Florida Legislature adjourned the 2007 Legislative Session without determining how to protect Florida drivers after the sunset of PIP. Stearns has discussed this matter with several healthcare providers in Florida, including staff at Shands Teaching Hospital in Gainesville. They pointed out that the loss of this funding would threaten the ability of emergency rooms and trauma centers to provide care for those without insurance.


(Copy of Letter Below)


August 23, 2007

The Honorable Charlie Crist
Governor
PL – 05, The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399

Dear Governor Crist:

I write to urge you to use your strong leadership to address the sunset of Florida’s mandatory No-Fault Personal Injury Protection law (PIP) during the September Special Session of the Florida Legislature. I understand that the Florida Legislature adjourned the 2007 Legislative Session without determining how best to continue to protect Florida drivers in light of the impending sunset of PIP. Recently during my Congressional work week in August, I met with several healthcare providers including Shands Teaching Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. All of them expressed concern that the sun setting of PIP law would impact them critically.

Allowing the PIP law to sunset creates the potential for a community health crisis that will impact all Floridians and threaten Florida’s fragile trauma care system. This insurance is the only coverage available (without the need to pursue litigation) to pay for emergency and other medical treatment after an auto accident for a growing number of Floridians without health insurance. I understand that forty percent of accident victims who receive emergency medical care have no insurance other than PIP. The loss of this protection will burden emergency rooms and trauma centers, which will continue to provide care, but will no longer receive timely or adequate compensation. This burden may ultimately fall on the shoulders of all taxpayers due to the increased need for state and/or federal dollars resulting from the loss of this source of payment to support Florida’s trauma system.

I am writing to you because of their concern. Therefore, I urge you to add PIP to the September Special Session of the Florida Legislature rather than allowing this vital protection to sunset. I also urge you to strongly encourage Senate President Ken Pruitt and House Speaker Marco Rubio to forge an agreement to either reform and extend PIP or replace PIP with a viable alternative.



Sincerely,

Cliff Stearns
United States Representative

CS/jk