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Bad House PIP Bill Placed on Special Order Calendar

The onerous House PIP bill, HB119 by Rep. Boyd, has been placed on the special order calendar for full House consideration as early as tomorrow afternoon. Thank you to all who have sent messages to House members and enlisted others to do so. While it has appeared that House Republicans have been “locked down” to vote for this measure when it has been considered in various committees, there is a possibility that there may not be a “lockdown” for the floor vote. So, please continue your contacts to all House members as first suggested in the FCA poster several weeks ago. 

Legislative Update: Senate Budget Committee Taking Up SB1860 Again Today

Yesterday at 6:45pm, the Senate Budget Committee temporarily passed Senate Bill 1860 by Senator Negron, so that consideration of the bill could continue in a subsequent meeting which began at 2:30pm today. To all who have contacted members of this committee, thank you for your efforts. 

Call to Action on Bad Amendment to Better PIP Bill, Senate Bill 1860 by Negron

Call to Action on Bad Amendment to Better PIP Bill, Senate Bill 1860 by Negron

 

            At 3:45 this afternoon, the Senate Budget Committee will turn its attention to Senate Bill 1860 by Sen. Joe Negron (R-Palm City) which proposes a number of changes to Florida's PIP/No-fault insurance system. The bill is a radical departure from the slash-and-burn product currently moving through the House. Sen. Negron's proposal is a much more thoughtful and comprehensive product which actually addresses fraud and works to reduce premiums and protect patient choice. SB 1860, in its current form, is supported by the FCA and coalition partners.
            Of concern is a very bad 146-page amendment which was filed hours ago on Monday evening, Amendment #344314 by Senator Richter, which would conform SB 1860 more closely to the bad House PIP bill by Rep. Boyd. To read more, click here.

 

Stimulus 101 - 4 Steps to $44,000

           Free Webinar for FCA Members on March 1

Sponsored by ACOM Health, FCA Member Benefit Provider. Space is limited.

            American Recovery & Reinvestment (ARRA) HITECH Act is intended to ensure that patient data can be securely exchanged between health information professional and networks. It mandates the adoption of EHR systems, encouraging early adoption with incentives and punishing late adoption with penalties. Nearly 20 billion dollars have been allocated as incentives to doctors’ demonstrating “meaningful use” of certified technology solutions.

            This is strictly an educational presentation, here's what you can expect:

* A straightforward overview of EHR Incentive Program basics

* How is stimulus money calculated

* 4 steps to getting a check

* Introduction to "Meaningful Use"

Jeff Brown            Presented by:
Dr. Jeff Brown, DC, CPC, CCPC
Senior Consultant / Meaningful Use Coach
ACOM Health

            During his tenure with ACOM Health, Dr. Jeff Brown attained Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and Certified Chiropractic Professional Coder (CCPC) distinctions, taught several coding & documentation seminars, written articles, and traveled nationwide to 50+ offices teaching chiropractors and their staff proper coding, documentation, and reimbursement procedures. He is a 2003 summa cum laude graduate of Sherman College of Chiropractic and holds a Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University.

Register Now

2012 Florida Legislative Session Update: Committee Approves Bad House PIP Bill

         Over strong objections by the provider community, attorneys and consumer groups, the House Economic Affairs Committee today passed yet another re-draft of a PIP/No-Fault reform measure on a straight party-line vote.  The latest version of the bill, which only came into public view last night, continues to unfairly deny accident victims the right to seek treatment by chiropractic physicians.  No amendments were adopted by the committee.

Legislative Alert: Contact House Economic Affairs Committee NOW re Bad PIP Bill

The House Economic Affairs Committee will take up House bill 119 – the onerous bill which would create an emergency room-only PIP system – at its next meeting, beginning at 8am tomorrow morning.   While no agenda and no amendments have been formally published, the FCA has been informed that a new bill text is likely to be offered as an amendment.  Any such amendment is unlikely to cure the original bill’s problems of no access to chiropractic services, allowing provider examinations under oath, mandating legal fee caps, and the many other onerous provisions of this bill that also does nothing to address criminal fraud.

PIP: Continue Messages to Florida House Members

Thank you to all who have followed FCA requests to send messages and engage others in messaging Florida House members about the very bad PIP bill, HB 119 by Rep. Boyd. Please continue your activity as requested in the PIP poster issued by the FCA , as only one committee stop remains in the House and we believe that hearing could take place as early as this Friday, Feb. 17. If the bill is able to clear this hurdle, it would then be ready for floor action by the entire House.

Chiropractic in the News

            The chiropractic message on PIP and concussion issues is starting to appear in media around the state.  Here are links to several items from today’s news:

2012 Florida Legislative Session Update: Legislature Hits Session Midpoint

           (Thursday, February 9, 2012, Tallahassee) – Wednesday of this week marked the mid-point of Florida’s 2012 Legislative Session, as legislators continued their negotiations on a wide variety of issues including their two constitutionally-mandated tasks; crafting a balanced state budget and reapportioning the state’s political districts.  Assuming they end their deliberations on time, March 9th will mark the end of their earlier-than-usual session (required each ten years following the decennial census).

Legislative Update: Senate PIP/No-fault Reform Passes First Committee Stop

            (Thursday, 5:30pm, Tallahassee) Moments ago, the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee unanimously gave its approval to HB 1860 authored by Sen. Joe Negron (R-Palm City). The bill contains a variety of reforms preserving the state's no-fault insurance system while offering a series of fraud fighting measures designed to reduce costs. The Senate idea is dramatically different from a bill moving in the Florida House that seeks to replace PIP with a new emergency care only system.

Patient/Consumer Contact Needed Now on Dastardly House PIP Bill

                         Aposter is attached for use by your patients, staff and others incontacting Florida House members about the horrific PIP bill byRep. Boyd. His bill, CS for HB 119C, would force Floridians injuredin auto accidents to emergency rooms within 72 hours of an accidentin order to receive care and would eliminate access to chiropracticservices for auto injuries. Place this poster in your waiting room next to a laptop with internetaccess, so that patients can easily and quickly send a message totheir legislators. Sample messages appear on the poster. You canalso share it easily via e-mail with family and friends.
            CS for HB 119C is not on the agenda for committee considerationthis week. Please watch future bulletins for more updates and continuecontacts to House members using instructions and messaging on theattached poster until further notice.

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